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exacting kind. Even with the help of Penrose to encourage him, he
does not get on to his satisfaction--and yet, as I could plainly
perceive, the ambition to make a name in the world exercises a
stronger influence over him than ever. All in our favor, my
reverend friend--all in our favor!
I took the liberty of asking to see Penrose alone for a moment;
and, this request granted, Romayne and I parted cordially. I can
make most people like me, when I choose to try. The master of
Vange Abbey is no exception to the rule. Did I tell you,
by-the-by, that the property has a little declined of late in
value? It is now not worth more than six thousand a year. _We_
will improve it when it returns to the Church.
My interview with Penrose was over in two minutes. Dispensing
with formality, I took his arm, and led him into the front
garden.
"I have heard all about it," I said; "and I must not deny that
you have disappointed me. But I know your disposition, and I make
allowances. You have qualities, dear Arthur, which perhaps put
you a little out of place among us. I shall be obliged to report
what you have done--but you may trust me to put it favorably.
Shake hands, my son, and, while we are still together, let us be
as good friends as ever."
You may think that I spoke in this way with a view to my
indulgent language being repeated to Romayne, and so improving
the position which I have already gained in his estimation. Do
you know, I really believe I meant it at the time! The poor
fellow gratefully kissed my hand when I offered it to him--he was
not able to speak. I wonder whether I am weak about Arthur? Say a
kind word for him, when his conduct comes under notice--but pray
don't mention this little frailty of mine; and don't suppose I
have any sympathy with his weak-minded submission to Mrs.
Romayne's prejudices. If I ever felt the smallest consideration
for _her_ (and I cannot call to mind any amiableemotion of that
sort), her letter to Winterfield would have effectually
extinguished it. There is something quite revolting to me in a
deceitful woman.
In closing this letter, I may quiet the minds of our reverend
brethren, if I assure them that my former objection to
associating myself directly with the conversion of Romayne no
longer exists.
Yes! even at my age, and with my habits, I am now resigned to
hearing, and confuting, the trivial arguments of a man who is
young enough to be my son. I shall write a carefully-guarded
letter to Romayne, on the departure of Penrose; and I shall send
him a book to read, from the influence of which I expect
gratifying results. It is not a controversial work (Arthur has
been beforehand with me there)--it is Wiseman's "Recollections of
the Popes." I look to that essentially readable book to excite
Romayne's imagination, by vivid descriptions of the splendors of
the Church, and the vast influence and power of the higher
priesthood. Does this sudden enthusiasm of mine surprise you? And
are you altogether at a loss to know what it means?
It means, my friend, that I see our position toward Romayne in a
new light. Forgive me, if I say no more for the present. I prefer
to be silent, until my audacity is justified by events.
--- * Father Benwell's experience had, in this case, not misled
him. If Stella had remained unmarried, Winterfield might have
justified himself. But he was honorablyunwilling to disturb her
relations with her husband, by satisfying her that he had never
been unworthy of the affection which had once united them.
CHAPTER V.
BERNARD WINTERFIELD'S CORRESPONDENCE.
I.
_From Mrs. Romayne to Mr. Winterfield._
HAS my letter failed to reach you? I directed it (as I direct
this) to Beaupark, not knowing your London address.
Yesterday, Father Benwell called at Ten Acres Lodge. He first saw
my mother and myself and he contrived to mention your name. It
was done with his usual adroitness, and I might perhaps have
passed it over if he had not looked at me. I hope and pray it may
be only my fancy--but I thought I saw, in his eyes, that he was
conscious of having me in his power, and that he might betray me
does not get on to his satisfaction--and yet, as I could plainly
perceive, the ambition to make a name in the world exercises a
stronger influence over him than ever. All in our favor, my
reverend friend--all in our favor!
I took the liberty of asking to see Penrose alone for a moment;
and, this request granted, Romayne and I parted cordially. I can
make most people like me, when I choose to try. The master of
Vange Abbey is no exception to the rule. Did I tell you,
by-the-by, that the property has a little declined of late in
value? It is now not worth more than six thousand a year. _We_
will improve it when it returns to the Church.
My interview with Penrose was over in two minutes. Dispensing
with formality, I took his arm, and led him into the front
garden.
"I have heard all about it," I said; "and I must not deny that
you have disappointed me. But I know your disposition, and I make
allowances. You have qualities, dear Arthur, which perhaps put
you a little out of place among us. I shall be obliged to report
what you have done--but you may trust me to put it favorably.
Shake hands, my son, and, while we are still together, let us be
as good friends as ever."
You may think that I spoke in this way with a view to my
indulgent language being repeated to Romayne, and so improving
the position which I have already gained in his estimation. Do
you know, I really believe I meant it at the time! The poor
fellow gratefully kissed my hand when I offered it to him--he was
not able to speak. I wonder whether I am weak about Arthur? Say a
kind word for him, when his conduct comes under notice--but pray
don't mention this little frailty of mine; and don't suppose I
have any sympathy with his weak-minded submission to Mrs.
Romayne's prejudices. If I ever felt the smallest consideration
for _her_ (and I cannot call to mind any amiableemotion of that
sort), her letter to Winterfield would have effectually
extinguished it. There is something quite revolting to me in a
deceitful woman.
In closing this letter, I may quiet the minds of our reverend
brethren, if I assure them that my former objection to
associating myself directly with the conversion of Romayne no
longer exists.
Yes! even at my age, and with my habits, I am now resigned to
hearing, and confuting, the trivial arguments of a man who is
young enough to be my son. I shall write a carefully-guarded
letter to Romayne, on the departure of Penrose; and I shall send
him a book to read, from the influence of which I expect
gratifying results. It is not a controversial work (Arthur has
been beforehand with me there)--it is Wiseman's "Recollections of
the Popes." I look to that essentially readable book to excite
Romayne's imagination, by vivid descriptions of the splendors of
the Church, and the vast influence and power of the higher
priesthood. Does this sudden enthusiasm of mine surprise you? And
are you altogether at a loss to know what it means?
It means, my friend, that I see our position toward Romayne in a
new light. Forgive me, if I say no more for the present. I prefer
to be silent, until my audacity is justified by events.
--- * Father Benwell's experience had, in this case, not misled
him. If Stella had remained unmarried, Winterfield might have
justified himself. But he was honorablyunwilling to disturb her
relations with her husband, by satisfying her that he had never
been unworthy of the affection which had once united them.
CHAPTER V.
BERNARD WINTERFIELD'S CORRESPONDENCE.
I.
_From Mrs. Romayne to Mr. Winterfield._
HAS my letter failed to reach you? I directed it (as I direct
this) to Beaupark, not knowing your London address.
Yesterday, Father Benwell called at Ten Acres Lodge. He first saw
my mother and myself and he contrived to mention your name. It
was done with his usual adroitness, and I might perhaps have
passed it over if he had not looked at me. I hope and pray it may
be only my fancy--but I thought I saw, in his eyes, that he was
conscious of having me in his power, and that he might betray me
- writer [´raitə]
n.作者；作家 (初中英语单词) - absent [´æbsənt, əb´sent] a.不在的 vt.使缺席 (初中英语单词)
- priest [pri:st] n.教士；牧师；神父 (初中英语单词)
- illness [´ilnis] n.生病，不健康，疾病 (初中英语单词)
- belief [bi´li:f] n.相信；信仰，信条 (初中英语单词)
- errand [´erənd] n.差使，使命 (初中英语单词)
- gratefully [´greitfuli] ad.感激地 (初中英语单词)
- innocent [´inəsənt] a.无罪的；单纯的 (初中英语单词)
- plainly [´pleinli] ad.平坦地；简单地 (初中英语单词)
- pointed [´pɔintid] a.尖(锐)的；中肯的 (初中英语单词)
- character [´kæriktə] n.特性；性质；人物；字 (初中英语单词)
- convert [kən´və:t, ´kɔnvə:t] v.转变 n.改变信仰者 (初中英语单词)
- domestic [də´mestik] a.家庭的；本国的 (初中英语单词)
- observation [,ɔbzə´veiʃən] n.观测；注意；意义 (初中英语单词)
- hasten [´heisən] vt.催促；促进 vi.赶紧 (初中英语单词)
- safely [´seifli] ad.安全地；平安地 (初中英语单词)
- literary [´litərəri] a.文学(上)的 (初中英语单词)
- favorable [´feivərəbəl] a.赞成的；顺利的 (初中英语单词)
- encourage [in´kʌridʒ] vt.鼓励；怂勇；促进 (初中英语单词)
- ambition [æm´biʃən] n.雄心，野心；企图 (初中英语单词)
- exception [ik´sepʃən] n.例外；反对，异议 (初中英语单词)
- interview [´intəvju:] n.&vt.接见；会见；交谈 (初中英语单词)
- disposition [,dispə´ziʃən] n.安排；性情；倾向 (初中英语单词)
- sympathy [´simpəθi] n.同情，怜悯 (初中英语单词)
- emotion [i´məuʃən] n.感情；情绪；激动 (初中英语单词)
- objection [əb´dʒekʃən] n.反对；异议；缺点 (初中英语单词)
- departure [di´pɑ:tʃə] n.离开，出发 (初中英语单词)
- imagination [i,mædʒi´neiʃən] n.想象(力) (初中英语单词)
- enthusiasm [in´θju:ziæzəm] n.热心；狂热；爱好 (初中英语单词)
- altogether [,ɔ:ltə´geðə] ad.完全；总而言之 (初中英语单词)
- forgive [fə´giv] vt.原谅，谅解，宽恕 (初中英语单词)
- disturb [di´stə:b] vt.扰乱；使不安；打乱 (初中英语单词)
- affection [ə´fekʃən] n.友爱；慈爱 (初中英语单词)
- knowing [´nəuiŋ] a.会意的，心照不宣的 (初中英语单词)
- betray [bi´trei] vt.背叛；辜负；暴露 (初中英语单词)
- landlady [´lænd,leidi] n.女房东；女店主 (高中英语单词)
- confession [kən´feʃən] n.招供；认错；交待 (高中英语单词)
- lifetime [´laiftaim] n.一生，终生，寿命 (高中英语单词)
- inscription [in´skripʃən] n.题名；题字；碑文 (高中英语单词)
- reverend [´revərənd] a.可尊敬的 (高中英语单词)
- decided [di´saidid] a.明显的；决定的 (高中英语单词)
- delicacy [´delikəsi] n.精美；娇弱，微妙 (高中英语单词)
- mistaken [mis´teikən] mistake的过去分词 (高中英语单词)
- perfectly [´pə:fiktli] ad.理想地；完美地 (高中英语单词)
- reception [ri´sepʃən] n.接待；欢迎；招待会 (高中英语单词)
- anxiously [´æŋkʃəsli] ad.挂念地；渴望地 (高中英语单词)
- learned [´lə:nid] a.有学问的，博学的 (高中英语单词)
- sensitive [´sensitiv] a.敏感的；感光的 (高中英语单词)
- repeated [ri´pi:tid] a.反复的；重复的 (高中英语单词)
- rightly [´raitli] ad.正义地；正确地 (英语四级单词)
- compassion [kəm´pæʃən] n.同情；怜悯 (英语四级单词)
- humbly [´hʌmbli] ad.恭顺地，谦卑地 (英语四级单词)
- resolved [ri´zɔlvd] a.决心的；坚定的 (英语四级单词)
- pilgrimage [´pilgrimidʒ] n.朝圣；远游；人生历程 (英语四级单词)
- arisen [ə´rizn] arise的过去分词 (英语四级单词)
- considering [kən´sidəriŋ] prep.就…而论 (英语四级单词)
- brussels [´brʌslz] n.布鲁塞尔 (英语四级单词)
- enlighten [in´laitn] vt.启发，开导 (英语四级单词)
- convincing [kən´vinsiŋ] a.有说服力的；有力的 (英语四级单词)
- moderation [,mɔdə´reiʃən] n.适度；温和；节制 (英语四级单词)
- alternative [ɔ:l´tə:nətiv] a.二中选一的 n.选择 (英语四级单词)
- cordially [´kɔ:djəli] ad.热诚地；亲切地 (英语四级单词)
- formality [fɔ:´mæliti] n.形式；礼仪；拘谨 (英语四级单词)
- submission [səb´miʃən] n.屈服；谦恭 (英语四级单词)
- amiable [´eimiəbəl] a.亲切的，温和的 (英语四级单词)
- conversion [kən´və:ʃən] n.转化；变换；皈依 (英语四级单词)
- trivial [´triviəl] a.琐碎的；不重要的 (英语四级单词)
- beforehand [bi´fɔ:hænd] ad.事先；提前 (英语四级单词)
- essentially [i´senʃəli] ad.本质上，基本上 (英语四级单词)
- audacity [ɔ:´dæsiti] n.大胆；卤莽；无礼 (英语四级单词)
- unmarried [,ʌn´mærid] a.未婚的，独身的 (英语四级单词)
- unwilling [ʌn´wiliŋ] a.不愿意的；不情愿的 (英语四级单词)
- unworthy [ʌn´wə:ði] a.不值得的；不足道的 (英语四级单词)
- taking [´teikiŋ] a.迷人的 n.捕获物 (英语六级单词)
- rector [´rektə] n.校长；主任；负责人 (英语六级单词)
- politeness [pə´laitnis] n.礼貌；文雅；温和 (英语六级单词)
- speaking [´spi:kiŋ] n.说话 a.发言的 (英语六级单词)
- irritation [,iri´teiʃən] n.(被)激怒；疼痛处 (英语六级单词)
- estimation [,esti´meiʃən] n.估计；评价；判断 (英语六级单词)
- frailty [´freilti] n.脆弱；意志薄弱 (英语六级单词)
- honorably [´ɔnərəbli] ad.光荣地；光明正大地 (英语六级单词)
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