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can't find another reason, how can I? It must have been a sudden
antipathy, as you say. Such things do happen between strangers. I
suppose I am right in assuming that Mrs. Romayne and Mr.
Winterfield are strangers?"
His eyes flashed with a sudden sinister brightness--the new idea
had caught light in his mind. "They _met_ as strangers," he said.
There he stopped again, and returned to the window. I felt that I
might lose the place I had gained in his confidence if I pressed
the subject any further. Besides, I had my reasons for saying a
word about Penrose next. As it happened, I had received a letter
from him, relating to his present employment, and sending kindest
regards to his dear friend and master in the postscript.
I gave the message. Romayne looked round, with an instant change
in his face. The mere sound of Penrose's name seemed to act as a
relief to the gloom and suspicion that had oppressed him the
moment before. "You don't know how I miss the dear gentle little
fellow," he said, sadly.
"Why not write to him?" I suggested. "He would be so glad to hear
from you again."
"I don't know where to write."
"Did I not send you his address when I forwarded your letter to
him?"
"No."
"Then let me atone for my forgetfulness at once."
I wrote down the address, and took my leave.
As I approached the door I noticed on a side table the Catholic
volumes which Penrose left with Romayne. One of them was open,
with a pencil lying beside it. I thought that a good sign--but I
said nothing.
Romayne pressed my hand at parting. "You have been very kind and
friendly, Father Benwell," he said. "I shall be glad to see you
again."
Don't mention it in quarters where it might do me harm. Do you
know, I really pitied him. He has sacrificed everything to his
marriage--and his marriage has disappointed him. He was even
reduced to be friendly with Me.
Of course when the right time comes I shall give Penrose leave of
absence. Do you foresee, as I do, the speedy return of "the dear
gentle little fellow" to his old employment; the resumed work of
conversion advancing more rapidly than ever; and the jealousy of
the Protestant wife aggravating the false position in which she
is already placed by her equivocal reception of Winterfield? You
may answer this by reminding me of the darker side of the
prospect. An heir may be born; and the heir's mother, backed by
general opinion, may insist--if there is any hesitation in the
matter--on asserting the boy's natural right to succeed his
father.
Patience, my reverend colleague! There is no threatening of any
such calamity yet. And, even if it happens, don't forget that
Romayne has inherited a second fortune. The Vange estate has an
estimated value. If the act of restitution represented that value
in ready money, do you think the Church would discourage a good
convert by refusing his check? You know better than that--and so
do I.
----
The next day I called to inquire how Mrs. Eyrecourt was getting
on. The report was favorable. Three days later I called again.
The report was still more encouraging. I was also informed that
Mrs. Romayne had returned to Ten Acres Lodge.
Much of my success in life has been achieved by never being in a
hurry. I was not in a hurry now. Time sometimes brings
opportunities--and opportunities are worth waiting for.
Let me make this clear by an example.
A man of headlongdisposition, in my place, would have probably
spoken of Miss Eyrecourt's marriage to Romayne at his first
meeting with Winterfield, and would have excited their distrust,
and put them respectively on their guard, without obtaining any
useful result. I can, at any time, make the disclosure to Romayne
which informs him that his wife had been Winterfield's guest in
Devonshire, when she affected to meet her former host on the
footing of a stranger. In the meanwhile, I give Penrose ample
opportunity for innocently widening the breach between husband
and wife.
You see, I hope, that if I maintain a passive position, it is not
antipathy, as you say. Such things do happen between strangers. I
suppose I am right in assuming that Mrs. Romayne and Mr.
Winterfield are strangers?"
His eyes flashed with a sudden sinister brightness--the new idea
had caught light in his mind. "They _met_ as strangers," he said.
There he stopped again, and returned to the window. I felt that I
might lose the place I had gained in his confidence if I pressed
the subject any further. Besides, I had my reasons for saying a
word about Penrose next. As it happened, I had received a letter
from him, relating to his present employment, and sending kindest
regards to his dear friend and master in the postscript.
I gave the message. Romayne looked round, with an instant change
in his face. The mere sound of Penrose's name seemed to act as a
relief to the gloom and suspicion that had oppressed him the
moment before. "You don't know how I miss the dear gentle little
fellow," he said, sadly.
"Why not write to him?" I suggested. "He would be so glad to hear
from you again."
"I don't know where to write."
"Did I not send you his address when I forwarded your letter to
him?"
"No."
"Then let me atone for my forgetfulness at once."
I wrote down the address, and took my leave.
As I approached the door I noticed on a side table the Catholic
volumes which Penrose left with Romayne. One of them was open,
with a pencil lying beside it. I thought that a good sign--but I
said nothing.
Romayne pressed my hand at parting. "You have been very kind and
friendly, Father Benwell," he said. "I shall be glad to see you
again."
Don't mention it in quarters where it might do me harm. Do you
know, I really pitied him. He has sacrificed everything to his
marriage--and his marriage has disappointed him. He was even
reduced to be friendly with Me.
Of course when the right time comes I shall give Penrose leave of
absence. Do you foresee, as I do, the speedy return of "the dear
gentle little fellow" to his old employment; the resumed work of
conversion advancing more rapidly than ever; and the jealousy of
the Protestant wife aggravating the false position in which she
is already placed by her equivocal reception of Winterfield? You
may answer this by reminding me of the darker side of the
prospect. An heir may be born; and the heir's mother, backed by
general opinion, may insist--if there is any hesitation in the
matter--on asserting the boy's natural right to succeed his
father.
Patience, my reverend colleague! There is no threatening of any
such calamity yet. And, even if it happens, don't forget that
Romayne has inherited a second fortune. The Vange estate has an
estimated value. If the act of restitution represented that value
in ready money, do you think the Church would discourage a good
convert by refusing his check? You know better than that--and so
do I.
----
The next day I called to inquire how Mrs. Eyrecourt was getting
on. The report was favorable. Three days later I called again.
The report was still more encouraging. I was also informed that
Mrs. Romayne had returned to Ten Acres Lodge.
Much of my success in life has been achieved by never being in a
hurry. I was not in a hurry now. Time sometimes brings
opportunities--and opportunities are worth waiting for.
Let me make this clear by an example.
A man of headlongdisposition, in my place, would have probably
spoken of Miss Eyrecourt's marriage to Romayne at his first
meeting with Winterfield, and would have excited their distrust,
and put them respectively on their guard, without obtaining any
useful result. I can, at any time, make the disclosure to Romayne
which informs him that his wife had been Winterfield's guest in
Devonshire, when she affected to meet her former host on the
footing of a stranger. In the meanwhile, I give Penrose ample
opportunity for innocently widening the breach between husband
and wife.
You see, I hope, that if I maintain a passive position, it is not
- account [ə´kaunt]
vi.说明 vt.认为 n.帐目 (初中英语单词) - explanation [,eksplə´neiʃən] n.解释；说明；辩解 (初中英语单词)
- catholic [´kæθəlik] a.天主教 n.天主教徒 (初中英语单词)
- seriously [´siəriəsli] ad.严肃；严重，重大 (初中英语单词)
- sensible [´sensəbəl] a.感觉得到的 (初中英语单词)
- acquaintance [ə´kweintəns] n.相识；熟人，相识的人 (初中英语单词)
- accord [ə´kɔ:d] n.&vi.符合 vt.给与 (初中英语单词)
- interview [´intəvju:] n.&vt.接见；会见；交谈 (初中英语单词)
- advanced [əd´vɑ:nst] a.先进的；高级的 (初中英语单词)
- motive [´məutiv] n.动机；主题 a.运动的 (初中英语单词)
- peculiar [pi´kju:liə] a.特有的；奇异的 (初中英语单词)
- recommend [,rekə´mend] vt.推荐；使受欢迎 (初中英语单词)
- physician [fi´ziʃən] n.(内科)医生 (初中英语单词)
- persuade [pə´sweid] v.(被)说服；使相信 (初中英语单词)
- medical [´medikəl] a.医学的；医疗的 (初中英语单词)
- system [´sistəm] n.系统，体系，制度 (初中英语单词)
- equally [´i:kwəli] ad.相等地；平等地 (初中英语单词)
- honestly [´ɔnistli] ad.诚实地，老实地 (初中英语单词)
- plainly [´pleinli] ad.平坦地；简单地 (初中英语单词)
- valuable [´væljuəbəl, -jubəl] a.有价值的，贵重的 (初中英语单词)
- attractive [ə´træktiv] a.有吸引力；诱人的 (初中英语单词)
- thoroughly [´θʌrəli] ad.完全地，彻底地 (初中英语单词)
- sentence [´sentəns] n.判决 vt.宣判；处刑 (初中英语单词)
- welcome [´welkəm] a.受欢迎的；可喜的 (初中英语单词)
- suspicion [sə´spiʃən] n.怀(猜)疑；嫌疑 (初中英语单词)
- encourage [in´kʌridʒ] vt.鼓励；怂勇；促进 (初中英语单词)
- sharply [´ʃɑ:pli] ad.锋利地；剧烈地 (初中英语单词)
- employment [im´plɔimənt] n.工作；职业；雇用 (初中英语单词)
- instant [´instənt] a.立即的 n.紧迫；瞬间 (初中英语单词)
- estate [i´steit] n.财产；庄园；等级 (初中英语单词)
- discourage [dis´kʌridʒ] vt.使泄气，使沮丧 (初中英语单词)
- favorable [´feivərəbəl] a.赞成的；顺利的 (初中英语单词)
- waiting [´weitiŋ] n.等候；伺候 (初中英语单词)
- disposition [,dispə´ziʃən] n.安排；性情；倾向 (初中英语单词)
- meanwhile [´mi:n´wail] n.&ad.其间；同时 (初中英语单词)
- maintain [mein´tein] vt.维持；保持；继续 (初中英语单词)
- passive [´pæsiv] a.被动的 n.被动性 (初中英语单词)
- protestant [´prɔtistənt] a.新教的 n.新教徒 (高中英语单词)
- reception [ri´sepʃən] n.接待；欢迎；招待会 (高中英语单词)
- jealousy [´dʒeləsi] n.妒忌；猜忌 (高中英语单词)
- disposal [di´spəuzəl] n.处理；支配 (高中英语单词)
- courteous [´kə:tiəs] a.有礼貌的；殷勤的 (高中英语单词)
- novelty [´nɔvəlti] n.新奇(的事物) (高中英语单词)
- appeal [ə´pi:l] vi.&n.请求；呼吁；上诉 (高中英语单词)
- repeated [ri´pi:tid] a.反复的；重复的 (高中英语单词)
- impatient [im´peiʃənt] a.不耐烦的，急躁的 (高中英语单词)
- thoughtfully [´θɔ:tfuli] ad.深思地；体贴地 (高中英语单词)
- saying [´seiŋ, ´sei-iŋ] n.言语；言论；格言 (高中英语单词)
- hesitation [,hezi´teiʃən] n.犹豫，踌躇 (高中英语单词)
- reverend [´revərənd] a.可尊敬的 (高中英语单词)
- headlong [´hedlɔŋ] ad.&a.轻率地(的) (高中英语单词)
- breach [bri:tʃ] n.&v.破坏；违犯 (高中英语单词)
- noonday [´nu:ndei] n.正午 (英语四级单词)
- amiable [´eimiəbəl] a.亲切的，温和的 (英语四级单词)
- enlighten [in´laitn] vt.启发，开导 (英语四级单词)
- haggard [´hægəd] a.憔悴的 (英语四级单词)
- precise [pri´sais] a.精确的；清楚的 (英语四级单词)
- conventional [kən´venʃənəl] a.常规的；协定的 (英语四级单词)
- confidential [,kɔnfi´denʃəl] a.极受信任的；心腹的 (英语四级单词)
- boldness [´bəuldnis] n.大胆；冒失；显著 (英语四级单词)
- acceptable [ək´septəbəl] a.可接受的；合意的 (英语四级单词)
- unreasonable [ʌn´ri:zənəbl] a.不合理的；荒唐的 (英语四级单词)
- sinister [´sinistə] a.阴险的；不吉的 (英语四级单词)
- parting [´pɑ:tiŋ] a.&n.分离(的) (英语四级单词)
- foresee [fɔ:´si:] vt.预见，预知 (英语四级单词)
- speedy [´spi:di] a.快的，迅速的 (英语四级单词)
- calamity [kə´læmiti] n.灾害，大灾难 (英语四级单词)
- respectively [ri´spektivli] ad.各自地；分别地 (英语四级单词)
- robust [rəu´bʌst] a.强建的；茁壮的 (英语六级单词)
- judicious [dʒu:´diʃəs] a.明智的；贤明的 (英语六级单词)
- affected [ə´fektid] a.做作的；假装的 (英语六级单词)
- modestly [´mɔdistli] ad.谦虚地；有节制地 (英语六级单词)
- taking [´teikiŋ] a.迷人的 n.捕获物 (英语六级单词)
- forgetfulness [fə´getminɔt] n.健忘 (英语六级单词)
- innocently [´inəsntli] ad.天真地，单纯地 (英语六级单词)
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章节正文
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