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第4章

the purcell papers-2-第4章

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'My dear cousin; my dear Margaret

I am so delightedso out of breath。 We

did not expect you till ten o'clock; my

father is somewhere about the place; he

must be close at hand。 JamesCorney

run out and tell your mastermy

brother is seldom at home; at least at any

reasonable houryou must be so tiredso

fatiguedlet me show you to your room

see that Lady Margaret's luggage is all

brought upyou must lie down and rest

yourselfDeborah; bring some coffeeup

these stairs; we are so delighted to see

youyou cannot think how lonely I have

beenhow steep these stairs are; are not

they? I am so glad you are comeI

could hardly bring myself to believe that

you were really cominghow good of you;

dear Lady Margaret。'



There was real good…nature and delight

in my cousin's greeting; and a kind of

constitutional confidence of manner which

placed me at once at ease; and made me

feel immediately upon terms of intimacy

with her。 The room into which she

ushered me; although partaking in the

general air of decay which pervaded the

mansion and all about it; had nevertheless

been fitted up with evident attention to

comfort; and even with some dingy attempt

at luxury; but what pleased me most was

that it opened; by a second door; upon a

lobby which communicated with my fair

cousin's apartment; a circumstance which

divested the room; in my eyes; of the air

of solitude and sadness which would otherwise

have characterised it; to a degree

almost painful to one so dejected in spirits

as I was。



After such arrangements as I found

necessary were completed; we both went

down to the parlour; a large wainscoted

room; hung round with grim old portraits;

and; as I was not sorry to see; containing

in its ample grate a large and cheerful

fire。 Here my cousin had leisure to talk

more at her ease; and from her I learned

something of the manners and the habits

of the two remaining members of her

family; whom I had not yet seen。



On my arrival I had known nothing of

the family among whom I was come to

reside; except that it consisted of three

individuals; my uncle; and his son and

daughter; Lady Tn having been long

dead。 In addition to this very scanty stock

of information; I shortly learned from my

communicative companion that my uncle

was; as I had suspected; completely retired

in his habits; and besides that; having been

so far back as she could well recollect;

always rather strict; as reformed rakes

frequently become; he had latterly been

growing more gloomily and sternly

religious than heretofore。



Her account of her brother was far less

favourable; though she did not say anything

directly to his disadvantage。 From all

that I could gather from her; I was led to

suppose that he was a specimen of the idle;

coarse…mannered; profligate; low…minded

'squirearchy'a result which might

naturally have flowed from the circum…

stance of his being; as it were; outlawed

from society; and driven for companionship

to grades below his ownenjoying;

too; the dangerous prerogative of spending

much money。



However; you may easily suppose that

I found nothing in my cousin's communication

fully to bear me out in so very

decided a conclusion。



I awaited the arrival of my uncle;

which was every moment to be expected;

with feelings half of alarm; half of

curiositya sensation which I have often

since experienced; though to a less degree;

when upon the point of standing for the

first time in the presence of one of whom

I have long been in the habit of hearing

or thinking with interest。



It was; therefore; with some little

perturbation that I heard; first a slight

bustle at the outer door; then a slow step

traverse the hall; and finally witnessed the

door open; and my uncle enter the room。

He was a striking…looking man; from

peculiarities both of person and of garb; the

whole effect of his appearance amounted

to extreme singularity。 He was tall; and

when young his figure must have been

strikingly elegant; as it was; however; its

effect was marred by a very decided stoop。

His dress was of a sober colour; and in

fashion anterior to anything which I could

remember。 It was; however; handsome;

and by no means carelessly put on; but

what completed the singularity of his

appearance was his uncut; white hair;

which hung in long; but not at all

neglected curls; even so far as his shoulders;

and which combined with his regularly

classic features; and fine dark eyes; to

bestow upon him an air of venerable

dignity and pride; which I have never seen

equalled elsewhere。 I rose as he entered;

and met him about the middle of the

room; he kissed my cheek and both my

hands; saying:



'You are most welcome; dear child; as

welcome as the command of this poor

place and all that it contains can make

you。 I am most rejoiced to see you

truly rejoiced。 I trust that you are not

much fatiguedpray be seated again。'

He led me to my chair; and continued: 'I

am glad to perceive you have made

acquaintance with Emily already; I see;

in your being thus brought together; the

foundation of a lasting friendship。 You

are both innocent; and both young。 God

bless youGod bless you; and make you

all that I could wish。'





He raised his eyes; and remained for a

few moments silent; as if in secret prayer。

I felt that it was impossible that this man;

with feelings so quick; so warm; so tender;

could be the wretch that public opinion

had represented him to be。 I was more

than ever convinced of his innocence。



His manner was; or appeared to me;

most fascinating; there was a mingled

kindness and courtesy in it which seemed

to speak benevolence itself。 It was a

manner which I felt cold art could never

have taught; it owed most of its charm to

its appearing to emanate directly from the

heart; it must be a genuine index of the

owner's mind。 So I thought。



My uncle having given me fully to

understand that I was most welcome; and

might command whatever was his own;

pressed me to take some refreshment; and

on my refusing; he observed that previously

to bidding me good…night; he had one duty

further to perform; one in whose observance

he was convinced I would cheerfully

acquiesce。



He then proceeded to read a chapter

from the Bible; after which he took his

leave with the same affectionate kindness

with which he had greeted me; having

repeated his desire that I should consider

everything in his house as altogether at

my disposal。 It is needless to say that I

was much pleased with my uncleit was

impossible to avoid being so; and I could

not help saying to myself; if such a man

as this is not safe from the assaults of

slander; who is? I felt much happier than

I had done since my father's death; and

enjoyed that night the first refreshing

sleep which had visited me since that event。



My curiosity respecting my male cousin

did not long remain unsatisfiedhe

appeared the next day at dinner。 His

manners; though not so coarse as I had

expected; were exceedingly disagreeable;

there was an assurance and a forwardness

for which I was not prepared; there

was less of the vulgarity of manner; and

almost more of that of the mind; than I

had anticipated。 I felt quite uncomfortable

in his presence; there was just that

confidence in his look and tone which

would read encouragement even in mere

toleration; and I felt more disgusted and

annoyed at the coarse and extravagant

compliments which he was pleased from

time to time to pay me; than perhaps the

extent of the atrocity might fully have

warranted。 It was; however; one consolation

that he did not often appear; being

much engrossed by pursuits about which I

neither knew nor cared anything; but

when he did appear; his attentions; either

with a view to his amusement or to some

more serious advantage; were so 

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