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当前位置:首页 -> 10级英语阅读 - > 长篇小说《米德尔马契》(86)
长篇小说《米德尔马契》(86)
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  • “Le cœur se sature d’amour comme d’un sel divin qui le conserve1; de là l’incorruptible adhérence2 de ceux qui se sont aimés dès l’aube de la vie, et la fraîcheur des vielles amours prolongées. Il existe un embaumement d’amour. C’est de Daphnis et Chloé que sont faits Philémon et Baucis. Cette vieillesse-là, ressemblance du soir avec l’aurore.”—VICTOR HUGO: L’homme qui rit.

    Mrs. Garth, hearing Caleb enter the passage about tea-time, opened the parlor-door and said, “There you are, Caleb. Have you had your dinner?” (Mr. Garth’s meals were much subordinated to “business.”)

    “Oh yes, a good dinner—cold mutton and I don’t know what. Where is Mary?”

    “In the garden with Letty, I think.”

    “Fred is not come yet?”

    “No. Are you going out again without taking tea, Caleb?” said Mrs. Garth, seeing that her absent-minded husband was putting on again the hat which he had just taken off.

    “No, no; I’m only going to Mary a minute.”

    Mary was in a grassy3 corner of the garden, where there was a swing loftily hung between two pear-trees. She had a pink kerchief tied over her head, making a little poke4 to shade her eyes from the level sunbeams, while she was giving a glorious swing to Letty, who laughed and screamed wildly.

    Seeing her father, Mary left the swing and went to meet him, pushing back the pink kerchief and smiling afar off at him with the involuntary smile of loving pleasure.

    “I came to look for you, Mary,” said Mr. Garth. “Let us walk about a bit.”

    Mary knew quite well that her father had something particular to say: his eyebrows5 made their pathetic angle, and there was a tender gravity in his voice: these things had been signs to her when she was Letty’s age. She put her arm within his, and they turned by the row of nut-trees.

    “It will be a sad while before you can be married, Mary,” said her father, not looking at her, but at the end of the stick which he held in his other hand.

    “Not a sad while, father—I mean to be merry,” said Mary, laughingly. “I have been single and merry for four-and-twenty years and more: I suppose it will not be quite as long again as that.” Then, after a little pause, she said, more gravely, bending her face before her father’s, “If you are contented6 with Fred?”

    Caleb screwed up his mouth and turned his head aside wisely.

    “Now, father, you did praise him last Wednesday. You said he had an uncommon7 notion of stock, and a good eye for things.”

    “Did I?” said Caleb, rather slyly.

    “Yes, I put it all down, and the date, anno Domini, and everything,” said Mary. “You like things to be neatly8 booked. And then his behavior to you, father, is really good; he has a deep respect for you; and it is impossible to have a better temper than Fred has.”

    “Ay, ay; you want to coax9 me into thinking him a fine match.”

    “No, indeed, father. I don’t love him because he is a fine match.”

    “What for, then?”

    “Oh, dear, because I have always loved him. I should never like scolding any one else so well; and that is a point to be thought of in a husband.”

    “Your mind is quite settled, then, Mary?” said Caleb, returning to his first tone. “There’s no other wish come into it since things have been going on as they have been of late?” (Caleb meant a great deal in that vague phrase;) “because, better late than never. A woman must not force her heart—she’ll do a man no good by that.”

    “My feelings have not changed, father,” said Mary, calmly. “I shall be constant to Fred as long as he is constant to me. I don’t think either of us could spare the other, or like any one else better, however much we might admire them. It would make too great a difference to us—like seeing all the old places altered, and changing the name for everything. We must wait for each other a long while; but Fred knows that.”

    Instead of speaking immediately, Caleb stood still and screwed his stick on the grassy walk. Then he said, with emotion in his voice, “Well, I’ve got a bit of news. What do you think of Fred going to live at Stone Court, and managing the land there?”

    “How can that ever be, father?” said Mary, wonderingly.

    “He would manage it for his aunt Bulstrode. The poor woman has been to me begging and praying. She wants to do the lad good, and it might be a fine thing for him. With saving, he might gradually buy the stock, and he has a turn for farming.”

    “Oh, Fred would be so happy! It is too good to believe.”

    “Ah, but mind you,” said Caleb, turning his head warningly, “I must take it on my shoulders, and be responsible, and see after everything; and that will grieve your mother a bit, though she mayn’t say so. Fred had need be careful.”

    “Perhaps it is too much, father,” said Mary, checked in her joy. “There would be no happiness in bringing you any fresh trouble.”

    Nay10, nay; work is my delight, child, when it doesn’t vex11 your mother. And then, if you and Fred get married,” here Caleb’s voice shook just perceptibly, “he’ll be steady and saving; and you’ve got your mother’s cleverness, and mine too, in a woman’s sort of way; and you’ll keep him in order. He’ll be coming by-and-by, so I wanted to tell you first, because I think you’d like to tell him by yourselves. After that, I could talk it well over with him, and we could go into business and the nature of things.”

    “Oh, you dear good father!” cried Mary, putting her hands round her father’s neck, while he bent12 his head placidly13, willing to be caressed14. “I wonder if any other girl thinks her father the best man in the world!”

    “Nonsense, child; you’ll think your husband better.”

    “Impossible,” said Mary, relapsing into her usual tone; “husbands are an inferior class of men, who require keeping in order.”

    When they were entering the house with Letty, who had run to join them, Mary saw Fred at the orchard-gate, and went to meet him.

    “What fine clothes you wear, you extravagant15 youth!” said Mary, as Fred stood still and raised his hat to her with playful formality. “You are not learning economy.”

    “Now that is too bad, Mary,” said Fred. “Just look at the edges of these coat-cuffs! It is only by dint16 of good brushing that I look respectable. I am saving up three suits—one for a wedding-suit.”

    “How very droll17 you will look!—like a gentleman in an old fashion-book.”

    “Oh no, they will keep two years.”

    “Two years! be reasonable, Fred,” said Mary, turning to walk. “Don’t encourage flattering expectations.”

    “Why not? One lives on them better than on unflattering ones. If we can’t be married in two years, the truth will be quite bad enough when it comes.”

    “I have heard a story of a young gentleman who once encouraged flattering expectations, and they did him harm.”

    “Mary, if you’ve got something discouraging to tell me, I shall bolt; I shall go into the house to Mr. Garth. I am out of spirits. My father is so cut up—home is not like itself. I can’t bear any more bad news.”

    “Should you call it bad news to be told that you were to live at Stone Court, and manage the farm, and be remarkably18 prudent19, and save money every year till all the stock and furniture were your own, and you were a distinguished20 agricultural character, as Mr. Borthrop Trumbull says—rather stout21, I fear, and with the Greek and Latin sadly weather-worn?”

    “You don’t mean anything except nonsense, Mary?” said Fred, coloring slightly nevertheless.

    “That is what my father has just told me of as what may happen, and he never talks nonsense,” said Mary, looking up at Fred now, while he grasped her hand as they walked, till it rather hurt her; but she would not complain.

    “Oh, I could be a tremendously good fellow then, Mary, and we could be married directly.”

    “Not so fast, sir; how do you know that I would not rather defer22 our marriage for some years? That would leave you time to misbehave, and then if I liked some one else better, I should have an excuse for jilting you.”

    “Pray don’t joke, Mary,” said Fred, with strong feeling. “Tell me seriously that all this is true, and that you are happy because of it—because you love me best.”

    “It is all true, Fred, and I am happy because of it—because I love you best,” said Mary, in a tone of obedient recitation.

    They lingered on the door-step under the steep-roofed porch, and Fred almost in a whisper said—

    “When we were first engaged, with the umbrella-ring, Mary, you used to—”

    The spirit of joy began to laugh more decidedly in Mary’s eyes, but the fatal Ben came running to the door with Brownie yapping behind him, and, bouncing against them, said—

    “Fred and Mary! are you ever coming in?—or may I eat your cake?”



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    1 conserve [kənˈsɜ:v] vYRyP   第8级
    vt.保存,保护,节约,节省,守恒,不灭
    参考例句:
    • He writes on both sides of the sheet to conserve paper. 他在纸张的两面都写字以节省用纸。
    • Conserve your energy, you'll need it! 保存你的精力,你会用得着的!
    2 adherence [ədˈhɪərəns] KyjzT   第10级
    n.信奉,依附,坚持,固着
    参考例句:
    • He was well known for his adherence to the rules.他因遵循这些规定而出名。
    • The teacher demanded adherence to the rules.老师要求学生们遵守纪律。
    3 grassy [ˈgrɑ:si] DfBxH   第9级
    adj.盖满草的;长满草的
    参考例句:
    • They sat and had their lunch on a grassy hillside. 他们坐在长满草的山坡上吃午饭。
    • Cattle move freely across the grassy plain. 牛群自由自在地走过草原。
    4 poke [pəʊk] 5SFz9   第7级
    n.刺,戳,袋;vt.拨开,刺,戳;vi.戳,刺,捅,搜索,伸出,行动散慢
    参考例句:
    • We never thought she would poke her nose into this. 想不到她会插上一手。
    • Don't poke fun at me. 别拿我凑趣儿。
    5 eyebrows ['aɪbraʊz] a0e6fb1330e9cfecfd1c7a4d00030ed5   第7级
    眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )
    参考例句:
    • Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
    • His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。
    6 contented [kənˈtentɪd] Gvxzof   第8级
    adj.满意的,安心的,知足的
    参考例句:
    • He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office. 不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
    • The people are making a good living and are contented, each in his station. 人民安居乐业。
    7 uncommon [ʌnˈkɒmən] AlPwO   第8级
    adj.罕见的,非凡的,不平常的
    参考例句:
    • Such attitudes were not at all uncommon thirty years ago. 这些看法在30年前很常见。
    • Phil has uncommon intelligence. 菲尔智力超群。
    8 neatly [ni:tlɪ] ynZzBp   第8级
    adv.整洁地,干净地,灵巧地,熟练地
    参考例句:
    • Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly. 水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。
    • The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck. 那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。
    9 coax [kəʊks] Fqmz5   第8级
    vt. 哄;哄诱;慢慢将…弄好 vi. 哄骗;劝诱
    参考例句:
    • I had to coax the information out of him. 我得用好话套出他掌握的情况。
    • He tried to coax the secret from me. 他试图哄骗我说出秘方。
    10 nay [neɪ] unjzAQ   第12级
    adv.不;n.反对票,投反对票者
    参考例句:
    • He was grateful for and proud of his son's remarkable, nay, unique performance. 他为儿子出色的,不,应该是独一无二的表演心怀感激和骄傲。
    • Long essays, nay, whole books have been written on this. 许多长篇大论的文章,不,应该说是整部整部的书都是关于这件事的。
    11 vex [veks] TLVze   第8级
    vt.使烦恼,使苦恼
    参考例句:
    • Everything about her vexed him. 有关她的一切都令他困惑。
    • It vexed me to think of others gossiping behind my back. 一想到别人在背后说我闲话,我就很恼火。
    12 bent [bent] QQ8yD   第7级
    n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的;v.(使)弯曲,屈身(bend的过去式和过去分词)
    参考例句:
    • He was fully bent upon the project. 他一心扑在这项计划上。
    • We bent over backward to help them. 我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
    13 placidly ['plæsɪdlɪ] c0c28951cb36e0d70b9b64b1d177906e   第9级
    adv.平稳地,平静地
    参考例句:
    • Hurstwood stood placidly by, while the car rolled back into the yard. 当车子开回场地时,赫斯渥沉着地站在一边。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
    • The water chestnut floated placidly there, where it would grow. 那棵菱角就又安安稳稳浮在水面上生长去了。 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说
    14 caressed [kəˈrest] de08c4fb4b79b775b2f897e6e8db9aad   第7级
    爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 )
    参考例句:
    • His fingers caressed the back of her neck. 他的手指抚摩着她的后颈。
    • He caressed his wife lovingly. 他怜爱万分地抚摸着妻子。
    15 extravagant [ɪkˈstrævəgənt] M7zya   第7级
    adj.奢侈的;过分的;(言行等)放肆的
    参考例句:
    • They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts. 他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。
    • He is extravagant in behaviour. 他行为放肆。
    16 dint [dɪnt] plVza   第12级
    n.由于,靠;凹坑
    参考例句:
    • He succeeded by dint of hard work. 他靠苦干获得成功。
    • He reached the top by dint of great effort. 他费了很大的劲终于爬到了顶。
    17 droll [drəʊl] J8Tye   第11级
    adj.古怪的,好笑的
    参考例句:
    • The band have a droll sense of humour. 这个乐队有一种滑稽古怪的幽默感。
    • He looked at her with a droll sort of awakening. 他用一种古怪的如梦方醒的神情看着她.
    18 remarkably [ri'mɑ:kəbli] EkPzTW   第7级
    ad.不同寻常地,相当地
    参考例句:
    • I thought she was remarkably restrained in the circumstances. 我认为她在那种情况下非常克制。
    • He made a remarkably swift recovery. 他康复得相当快。
    19 prudent [ˈpru:dnt] M0Yzg   第7级
    adj.谨慎的,有远见的,精打细算的
    参考例句:
    • A prudent traveller never disparages his own country. 聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
    • You must school yourself to be modest and prudent. 你要学会谦虚谨慎。
    20 distinguished [dɪˈstɪŋgwɪʃt] wu9z3v   第8级
    adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的
    参考例句:
    • Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses. 大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
    • A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests. 宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。
    21 stout [staʊt] PGuzF   第8级
    adj.强壮的,结实的,勇猛的,矮胖的
    参考例句:
    • He cut a stout stick to help him walk. 他砍了一根结实的枝条用来拄着走路。
    • The stout old man waddled across the road. 那肥胖的老人一跩一跩地穿过马路。
    22 defer [dɪˈfɜ:(r)] KnYzZ   第7级
    vt.推迟,拖延;vi.(to)遵从,听从,服从
    参考例句:
    • We wish to defer our decision until next week. 我们希望推迟到下星期再作出决定。
    • We will defer to whatever the committee decides. 我们遵从委员会作出的任何决定。

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