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Mrs. Penniman even took for granted at times that other people had as much imagination as herself; so that when, half an hour later, her brother came in, she addressed him quite on this principle .
“He has just been here, Austin; it’s such a pity you missed him.”
“Whom in the world have I missed?” asked the Doctor.
“Mr. Morris Townsend; he has made us such a delightful visit.”
“And who in the world is Mr. Morris Townsend?”
“Aunt Penniman means the gentleman—the gentleman whose name I couldn’t remember,” said Catherine.
“The gentleman at Elizabeth’s party who was so struck with Catherine,” Mrs. Penniman added.
“Oh, his name is Morris Townsend, is it? And did he come here to propose to you?”
“Oh, father,” murmured the girl, turning away to the window, where the dusk had deepened to darkness.
“I hope he won’t do that without your permission,” said Mrs. Penniman, very graciously .
“After all, my dear, he seems to have yours,” her brother answered.
Lavinia gave an embarrassed smile, and Catherine, with her forehead touching the window, listened silently to this exchange between her father and aunt.
“The next time he comes,” the Doctor added, “you had better call me. He might like to see me.”
Morris Townsend came again, some five days afterwards;but Dr. Sloper was not called, as he was absent from home at the time. Catherine was with her aunt when the young man’s name was brought in, and Mrs. Penniman made a great point of her niece’s going into the drawing-room alone.
“This time it’s for you—for you only,” she said. “Before,when he talked to me, it was only preliminary —it was to gain my confidence . Literally , my dear, I should not have the courage to show myself today.”
And this was perfectly true. Mrs. Penniman was not a brave woman, and Morris Townsend had struck her as a young man of great force of character, and of remarkable powers of humor. She was not the least jealous of her niece, and had been perfectly happy with Catherine, but in the bottom of her heart she permitted herself the observation , “That’s the sort of husband I should have had!”
So Catherine saw Mr. Townsend alone, and her aunt did not come in even at the end of the visit. The visit was a long one;he sat there—in the front parlor, in the biggest armchair—for more than an hour. He seemed more at home this time—more familiar, lounging a little in the chair. He contemplated Catherine freely. There was a smile of respectful devotion in his handsome eyes which seemed to Catherine almost solemnly beautiful. His talk was light and easy and friendly; it took a practical turn,and he asked a number of questions about herself—what were her tastes—if she liked this and that—what were her habits.Catherine admitted to having a secret passion for the theatre,which had been but scantily gratified , and a taste for opera music—which she rarely had an occasion to hear, except on the piano. She confessed that she was not particularly fond of literature. Morris Townsend agreed with her that books were tiresome things. He had been to places that people had written books about, and they were not a bit like the descriptions. To see for yourself—that was the great thing; he always tried to see for himself. He had seen all the principal actors—he had been to all the best theatres in London and Paris. But the actors were always like the authors—they always exaggerated .He liked everything to be natural. Suddenly he stopped, looking at Catherine with his smile.
“That’s what I like about you; you are so natural! Excuse me,” he added, “you see I am natural myself!”
And before she had time to think whether she excused him or not, he began to talk about music, and to say that it was his greatest pleasure in life. He had heard all the great singers in Paris and London.
“I sing a little myself,” he said, “some day I will show you.”
And then he got up to go.
Catherine, while seeing him off, was thinking that “some day” had a delightful sound; it seemed to spread itself over the future.
This was all the more reason, however, though she was ashamed and uncomfortable, why she should tell her father that Mr. Morris Townsend had called again. She announced the fact abruptly , almost violently, as soon as the Doctor came into the house; and having done so, she took measures to leave the room. But she could not leave it fast enough; her father stopped her just as she reached the door.
“Well, my dear, did he propose to you today?” the Doctor asked.
She didn’t like this question—it made her unhappy. She stood, with her hand on the door- knob , looking at her parent,not knowing what to say. She gave a little laugh.
“Decidedly,” said the Doctor to himself, “my daughter is not brilliant.”
Catherine then decided to take the thing as a joke.
“Perhaps he will do it the next time!” she exclaimed, with a repetition of her laugh. And she quickly left the room.
The Doctor stood staring; he wondered whether his daughter were serious. It occurred to him that he ought to inform himself properly about this handsome young man who had formed the habit of running in and out of his house. He went and discussed the boy with his sister, Mrs. Almond, at first opportunity .
“Lavinia has already been to ask me about him,” she said,the opportunity having arisen. “Lavinia is most excited;I don’t understand it. It’s not, after all, Lavinia that the young man is supposed to have designs upon. She is such the romantic.”
“Ah, my dear,” the Doctor replied, “she has not lived with me these twelve years without my finding it out!”
“She didn’t want me to tell you that she had asked me about Mr. Townsend; but I told her I would. She always wants to conceal everything.”
“But what did you tell her?” the Doctor asked.
“What I tell you; that I know very little of him.”
“Lavinia must have been disappointed at that,” said the Doctor, “she would prefer him to have been guilty of some romantic crime. However, we must make the best of people.They tell me our gentleman is the cousin of your girl’s man.”
“He is a distant relation of Marian’s fiance. The name is the same, but I am given to understand that there are Townsends and Townsends. So Arthur’s mother tells me, anyway. She talked about ‘branches’—younger branches, elder branches, inferior branches—as if it were a royal house. Arthur, it appears, is of the reigning line, but poor Lavinia’s young man is not. Beyond this, Arthur’s mother knows very little about him;she has only a vague story that he has been ‘wild’. But I know his sister a little, and she is a very nice woman. Her name is Mrs. Montgomery; she is a widow, with a little property and five children. She lives on Second Avenue.”
“What does Mrs. Montgomery say about him?”
“He has talents by which he might distinguish himself.”
“What is his profession?”
“He hasn’t got any; he is looking for something. I believe he was once in the Navy.”
“Once? What is his age?”
“I suppose he is upwards of thirty. I think Arthur told me that he inherited a small property—which was perhaps the cause of his leaving the Navy—and that he spent it all in a few years. He traveled all over the world, lived abroad, and amused himself. He has lately come back to America, with the intention ,as he tells Arthur, of beginning life in earnest .”
“Is he in earnest about Catherine, then?”
“I don’t see why you should be doubtful ,” said Mrs.Almond. “It seems to me that you have never done Catherine justice. You must remember that she has the prospect of thirty thousand a year.”
The Doctor looked at his sister a moment, and then, with the slightest touch of bitterness, “You at least appreciate her,”he said.
Mrs. Almond blushed.
“I don’t mean that is her only merit ; I simply mean that it is a great one. A great many young men think so; and you appear to me never to have been properly aware of that. You have always talked of her as a girl who could never marry.”
“Tell me, how many suitors has Catherine had, with all her expectations—how much attention has she ever received? New York men prefer pretty girls—lively girls—girls like your own.Catherine is neither pretty nor lively.”
“Catherine does very well; she has a style of her own—which is more than my poor Marian has, who has no style at all.The reason Catherine has received so little attention is that she seems to all the young men to be older than themselves. She is so large, and she dresses so richly. They are rather afraid of her, I think; she looks as if she had been married already. Wait till some intelligent man of forty comes along, and he will be delighted with Catherine.”
“Mr. Townsend is not old enough, then; his motives may be pure.”
“It is very possible that his motives are pure. Lavinia is sure of it, and, as he is a very attractive youth, you might give him the benefit of the doubt.”
Dr. Sloper reflected for a moment.
“What money is he living on now?”
“I have no idea. He lives, as I say, with his sister.”
“A widow, with five children? Do you mean he lives upon her?”
Mrs. Almond got up, and with a certain impatience , “Had you not better ask Mrs. Montgomery herself?” she inquired.
“Perhaps I may come to that,” said the Doctor. “Did you say the Second Avenue?” He made a note of the address.
take (sth.) for granted 认为……是理所应当的
principle /ˈprɪnsəpl/ n. 法则，原则，原理
graciously /ˈɡreɪʃəslɪ/ adv. 和蔼地；优雅地；客气地
preliminary /prɪˈlɪmɪnərɪ/ adj. 预备的，初步的，铺垫的
confidence /ˈkɒnfɪdəns/ n. 信心；信任
literally /ˈlɪtərəlɪ/ adv. 照字面意义，逐字地；确实，精确地
remarkable /rɪˈmɑ:kəbl/ adj. 异常的，非凡的
observation /ˌɒbzəˈveɪʃən/ n. 观察，观测；（经观察后发表的）言论，评论
contemplate /ˈkɒntempleɪt/ vt. 注视，凝视
solemnly /ˈsɒləmlɪ/ adv. 严肃地，庄严地
scantily /ˈskæntɪl ɪ/ adv. 缺乏地，不足地，贫乏地
gratify /ˈɡrætɪfaɪ/ vt. 使高兴，使满足
rarely /ˈreəlɪ/ adv. 很少地，罕有地
particularly /pəˈtɪkjʊləlɪ/ adv. 特别地，显著地
principal /ˈpr ɪnsɪpəl/ adj. 重要的，主要的
exaggerate /ɪɡˈzædʒəreɪt/ vi. 夸大，夸张
abruptly /əˈbrʌptlɪ/ adv. 突然地；唐突地
knob /nɒb/ n. （门，抽屉等的）球形捏手；旋钮
repetition /ˌrepɪˈtɪʃən/ n. 重复，循环
opportunity /ˌɒpəˈtju:n ətɪ/ n. 机会，时机
conceal /kənˈsi:l/ vt. 隐藏，隐蔽；隐瞒
Townsends 姓汤森的人
inferior /ɪnˈfɪərɪə/ adj. 下等的，下级的；差的，次的，自卑的，劣等的
royal /ˈrɔɪəl/ adj. 王室的；皇家的
reigning /reɪnɪŋ/ adj. 统治的，在位的；本届的
vague /veɪɡ/ adj. 含糊的，不清楚的；茫然的，暧昧的
property /ˈprɒpətɪ/ n. 财产，所有物；所有权
distinguish /dɪsˈtɪŋɡwɪʃ/ vt. 使杰出；使显出特色
inherit /ɪnˈherɪt/ vt. 继承
intention /ɪnˈtenʃən/ n. 意图，目的
in earnest 真正地
doubtful /ˈda ʊtfʊl/ adj. 可疑的；疑心的
prospect /ˈprɒspekt/ n. 前景，前途；期望
merit /ˈmerɪt/ n. 优点，价值
suitor /ˈsju:tə/ n. 求婚者；请愿者
intelligent /ɪnˈtelɪdʒənt/ adj. 聪明的，伶俐的，有才智的
motive /ˈməʊtɪv/ n. 动机，目的
reflect /rɪˈflekt/ vi. 沉思；考虑
impatience /ɪmˈpeɪʃəns/ n. 急躁，不耐烦