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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
As Dr Gerard knew by experience, Americans are disposed to be a friendly race. They have notthe uneasy suspicion of the travelling Briton. To a man of Dr Gerard’s tact1 making theacquaintance of Mr Cope presented few difficulties. The American was lonely and was, like mostof his race, disposed to friendliness2. Dr Gerard’s card-case was again to the fore3.
Reading the name on it, Mr Jefferson Cope was duly impressed.
‘Why, surely, Dr Gerard, you were over in the States not very long ago?’
‘Last autumn. I was lecturing at Harvard.’
‘Of course. Yours, Dr Gerard, is one of the most distinguished4 names in your profession.
You’re pretty well at the head of your subject in Paris.’
‘My dear sir, you are far too kind! I protest.’
‘No, no, this is a great privilege—meeting you like this. As a matter of fact, there are severalvery distinguished people here in Jerusalem just at present. There’s yourself and there’s LordWelldon, and Sir Gabriel Steinbaum, the financier. Then there’s the veteran English archaeologist,Sir Manders Stone. And there’s Lady Westholme, who’s very prominent in English politics. Andthere’s that famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot.’
‘Little Hercule Poirot? Is he here?’
‘I read his name in the local paper as having lately arrived. Seems to me all the world and hiswife are at the Solomon Hotel. A mighty5 fine hotel it is, too. And very tastefully decorated.’
Mr Jefferson Cope was clearly enjoying himself. Dr Gerard was a man who could display a lotof charm when he chose. Before long the two men had adjourned6 to the bar.
After a couple of highballs Gerard said: ‘Tell me, is that a typical American family to whomyou were talking?’
Jefferson Cope sipped8 his drink thoughtfully. Then he said: ‘Why, no, I wouldn’t say it wasexactly typical.’
‘No? A very devoted9 family, I thought.’
Mr Cope said slowly: ‘You mean they all seem to revolve10 round the old lady? That’s trueenough. She’s a very remarkable11 old lady, you know.’
‘Indeed?’
Mr Cope needed very little encouragement. The gentle invitation was enough.
‘I don’t mind telling you, Dr Gerard, I’ve been having that family a good deal on my mindlately. I’ve been thinking about them a lot. If I may say so, it would ease my mind to talk to youabout the matter. If it won’t bore you, that is?’
Dr Gerard disclaimed12 boredom13. Mr Jefferson Cope went on slowly, his pleasant clean-shavenface creased14 with perplexity.
‘I’ll tell you straight away that I’m just a little worried. Mrs Boynton, you see, is an old friendof mine. That is to say, not the old Mrs Boynton, the young one, Mrs Lennox Boynton.’
‘Ah, yes, that very charming dark-haired young lady.’
‘That’s right. That’s Nadine. Nadine Boynton, Dr Gerard, is a very lovely character. I knew herbefore she was married. She was in hospital then, working to be a trained nurse. Then she went fora vacation to stay with the Boyntons and she married Lennox.’
‘Yes?’
Mr Jefferson Cope took another sip7 of highball and went on:
‘I’d like to tell you, Dr Gerard, just a little of the Boynton family history.’
‘Yes? I should be most interested.’
‘Well, you see, the late Elmer Boynton—he was quite a well-known man and a very charmingpersonality—was twice married. His first wife died when Carol and Raymond were tiny toddlers.
The second Mrs Boynton, so I’ve been told, was a handsome woman when he married her, thoughnot very young. Seems odd to think she can ever have been handsome to look at her now, butthat’s what I’ve been told on very good authority. Anyway, her husband thought a lot of her andadopted her judgement on almost every point. He was an invalid15 for some years before he died,and she practically ruled the roost. She’s a very capable woman with a fine head for business. Avery conscientious16 woman, too. After Elmer died, she devoted herself absolutely to these children.
There’s one of her own, too, Ginevra—pretty red-haired girl, but a bit delicate. Well, as I wastelling you, Mrs Boynton devoted herself entirely17 to her family. She just shut out the outside worldentirely. Now I don’t know what you think, Dr Gerard, but I don’t think that’s always a verysound thing.’
‘I agree with you. It is most harmful to developing mentalities18.’
‘Yes, I should say that just about expresses it. Mrs Boynton shielded these children from theoutside world and never let them make any outside contacts. The result of that is that they’vegrown up—well, kind of nervy. They’re jumpy, if you know what I mean. Can’t make friendswith strangers. It’s bad, that.’
‘It is very bad.’
‘I’ve no doubt Mrs Boynton meant well. It was just over-devotion on her part.’
收听单词发音 |
1
tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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adjourned
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| （使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sip
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| v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量 | |
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sipped
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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revolve
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| vi.(使)旋转；循环出现 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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disclaimed
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| v.否认( disclaim的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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boredom
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| n.厌烦，厌倦，乏味，无聊 | |
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creased
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| （使…）起折痕，弄皱( crease的过去式和过去分词 )； （皮肤）皱起，使起皱纹； 皱皱巴巴 | |
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invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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18
mentalities
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| n.心态( mentality的名词复数 )；思想方法；智力；智能 | |
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