【英文读物】Light O' The Morning.docx

《【英文读物】Light O' The Morning.docx》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《【英文读物】Light O' The Morning.docx（196页珍藏版）》请在淘文阁 - 分享文档赚钱的网站上搜索。

1、【英文读物】Light O The MorningCHAPTER I. NORA. “Why, then, Miss Nora” “Yes, Hannah?” “You didnt see the masther going this way, miss?” “What do you mean, Hannah? Father is never at home at this hour.” “I thought maybe” said Hannah. She spoke in a dubious voice, backing a little away. Hannah was a small,

2、squat woman, of a truly Irish type. Her nose was celestial, her mouth wide, her eyes dark, and sparkling with fun. She was dressed in a short, coarse serge petticoat, with what is called a bedgown over it; the bedgown was made of striped calico, yellow and red, and was tied in at the waist with a br

3、oad band of the same. Hannahs hair was strongly inclined to gray, and her humorous face was covered with a perfect network of wrinkles. She showed a gleam of snowy teeth now, as she looked full at the young girl whom she was addressing. “Ah, then, Miss Nora,” she said, “its I that am sorry for yez.”

4、 Before Nora OShanaghgan could utter a word Hannah had turned on her heel. “Come back, Hannah,” said Nora in an imperious voice. “Presently, darlint; its the childer I hear calling me. Coming, Mike asthore, coming.” The squat little figure flew down a side walk which led to a paddock: beyond the pad

5、dock was a turnstile, and at the farther end of an adjacent field a cabin made of mud, with one tiny window and a thatched roof. Hannah was making for the cabin with rapid, waddling strides. Nora stood in the middle of the broad sweep which led up to the front door of the old house. Castle OShanaghg

6、an was a typical Irish home of the ancient rgime. The house, a great square pile, was roomy and spacious; it had innumerable staircases, and long passages through which the wind shrieked on stormy nights, and a great castellated tower at its north end. This tower was in ruins, and had been given up

7、a long time ago to the exclusive tenancy of the bats, the owls, and rats so large and fierce that the very dogs were afraid of them. In the tower at night the neighbors affirmed that they heard shrieks and ghostly noises; and Nora, whose bedroom was nearest to it, rejoiced much in the distinction of

8、 having twice heard the OShanaghgan Banshee keening outside her window. Nora was a slender, tall, and very graceful girl of about seventeen, and her face was as typical of the true, somewhat wild, Irish beauty as Hannah Croneens was the reverse. In the southwest of Ireland there are traces of Spanis

9、h as well as Celtic blood in many of its women; and Noras quantities of thick, soft, intensely black hair must have come to her from a Spanish ancestor. So also did the delicately marked black brows and the black lashes to her dark and very lovely blue eyes; but the clear complexion, the cheeks with

10、 the tenderest bloom on them, the softly dimpled lips red as coral, and the little teeth white as pearls were true Irish characteristics. Nora waited for a moment after Hannah had left her, then, shading her eyes from the westerly sun by one hand, she turned slowly and went into the house. “Where is

11、 mother, Pegeen?” she said to a rough-looking, somewhat slatternly servant who was crossing the hall. “In the north parlor, Miss Nora.” “Come along, then, Creena; come along, Cushla,” said the girl, addressing two handsome black Pomeranians who rushed to meet her. The dogs leaped up at her with expr

12、essions of rapture, and girl and dogs careered with a wild dance across the great, broad hall in the direction of the north parlor. Nora opened the door with a somewhat noisy bang, the dogs precipitated themselves into the room, and she followed. “Ah, then, mother dear! and have I disturbed you?” sh

13、e said. A pale-faced lady, who was lying full-length on a very old and hard sofa, rose with a querulous expression on her face when Nora entered. “I wish someone would teach you thoughtfulness,” she said; “you are the most tiresome girl in the world. I have been two hours trying to get a wink of sle

14、ep, and just when I succeed you come in and wake me.” “Its sorry I am to my hearts core,” said Nora. She went up to her mother, dropped on one knee, and looked with her rosy face into the worn and faded one of the elder woman. “Here I am, mammy,” she said again, “your own little Nora; let me sit wit

15、h you a bitmay I?” Mrs. OShanaghgan smiled faintly. She looked all over the girls slim figure, and finally her eyes rested on the laughing, lovely face. Then a cloud crossed her forehead, and her eyes became dim with tears. “Have you heard the last thing, Nora?” “There are so many last things, mothe

16、r,” said Nora. “But the very last. Your father has to pay back the money which Squire Murphy of Cronane lent him. It is the queerest thing; but the mortgagee means to foreclose, as he calls it, within three months if that money is not paid in full. I know well what it means.” Nora smiled. She took h

17、er mothers hand in hers, and began to stroke it gently. “I suppose,” she said, “it means this. It means that we must part with a little more of the beloved land, every sod of which I love. We certainly do seem to be getting poorer and poorer; but never mindnothing will ever alter the fact that” “Tha

18、t what, child?” “That we OShanaghgans are the proudest and oldest family in the county, and that there is scarcely an Englishman across the water who would not give all he possesses to change places with us.” “You talk like a silly child,” said Mrs. OShanaghgan; “and please remember that I am Englis

19、h.” “Oh, mummy, I am so sorry!” said the girl. She laid her soft head down on the sofa, pressing it against her mothers shoulder. “I cannot think of you as English,” she said. “You have lived here all, all my life. You belong to father, and you belong to Terence and mewhat have you to do with the co

20、ld English?” “I remember a time,” said Mrs. OShanaghgan, “when I thought Ireland the most desolate and God-forsaken place on the earth. It is true I have become accustomed to it now. But, Nora, if you only could realize what my old home was really like.” “I dont want to realize any home different fr

21、om this,” said the girl, a cloud shading her bright eyes for the moment. “You are silly and prejudiced,” said Mrs. OShanaghgan. “It is a great trial to me to have a daughter so unsympathetic.” “Oh, mummy! I dont mean to be unsympathetic. There now, we are quite cozy together. Tell me one of the old

22、stories; I do so love to listen.” The frown cleared from Mrs. OShanaghgans forehead, and the peevish lines went out of her face. She began to talk with animation and excitement. Nora knew exactly what she was going to say. She had heard the story so often; but, although she had heard it hundreds and

23、 thousands of times, she was never tired of listening to the history of a trim life of which she knew absolutely nothing. The orderly, well-dressed servants, the punctual meals, the good and abundant food, the nice dresses, the parties, the solid education, the discipline so foreign to her own exist

24、ence, allall held their proper fascination. But although she listened with delight to these stories of a bygone time, she never envied her mother those periods of prosperity. Such a life would have been a prison to her; so she thought, although she never spoke her thought aloud. Mrs. OShanaghgan beg

25、an the old tale to-night, telling it with a little more verve even than usual. She ended at last with a sigh. “Oh, the beautiful old times!” she said. “But you didnt know father then,” answered Nora, a frown coming to her brows, and an angry feeling for a moment visiting her warm heart. “You didnt h

26、ave father, nor Nora, nor Terry.” “Of course not, darling, and you make up for much; but, Nora dear, although I love my husband and my children, I hate this country. I hate it!” “Dont, mother,” said Nora, with a look of pain. She started to her feet. At that moment loud, strong steps were heard in t

27、he hall; a hearty voice exclaimed: “Wheres Light o the Morning? Where have you hidden yourself, witch?” “Its father,” said Nora. She said the words with a sort of gasp of rejoicing, and the next moment had dashed out of the room.CHAPTER II. “SOME MORE OF THE LAND MUST GO.” Squire OShanaghgan was a t

28、all, powerfully built man, with deep-set eyes and rugged, overhanging brows; his hair was of a grizzled gray, very thick and abundant; he had a shaggy beard, too, and a long overhanging mustache. He entered the north parlor still more noisily than Nora had done. The dogs yelped with delight, and flu

29、ng themselves upon him. “Down, Creena! down, Cushla!” he said. “Ah, then, Nora, they are as bewitching as yourself, little woman. What beauties they are growing, to be sure!” “I reared them,” said Nora. “I am proud of them both. At one time I thought Creena could not live; but look at her nowher coa

30、t as black as jet, and so silky.” “Shut the door, wont you, Patrick?” said his wife. “Bless me! I forgot,” said the Squire. He crossed the room, and, with an effort after quietness, closed the door with one foot; then he seated himself by his wifes side. “Better, Eileen?” he said, looking at her anx

31、iously. “I wish you would not call me Eileen,” she said. “I hate to have my name Irishized.” The Squires eyes filled with suppressed fun. “Ah, but you are half-Irish, whether you like it or not,” he said. “Is not she, colleen? Bless me, what a day it has turned out! We are getting summer weather at

32、last. What do you say to going for a drive, EileenEllen, I mean? Black Bess is eating her head off in the stables. I want to go as far as Murphys place, and you might as well come with me.” “And I too?” said Nora. “To be sure, child. Why not? You run round to the stables, Norrie, and give the order.

33、” Nora instantly left the room, the dogs following her. “What ails her?” said the Squire, looking at his wife. “Ails her, Pat? Nothing that I know of.” “Then you know very little,” was his answer. “I never see that sort of anxious frown between the colleens brows without knowing theres mischief in t

34、he wind. Somebody has been worrying her, and I wont have it.” He put down his great hand with a thump on the nearest table. “Dont, Pat. You quite shatter my nerves.” “Bless you and your nerves, Ellen. I want to give them all possible consideration; but I wont have Light o the Morning worried.” “Youl

35、l spoil that girl; youll rue it yet.” “Bless her heart! I couldnt spoil her; shes unspoilable. Did you ever see a sweeter bit of a thing, sound to the core, through and through?” “Sweet or not,” said the mother, “she has got to learn her lesson of life; and it is no good to be too tender with her; s

36、he wants a little bracing.” “You have been trying that oneh?” “Well, not exactly, Pat; but you cannot expect me to keep all our troubles to ourselves. Theres that mortgage, you know.” “Bother the mortgage!” said the Squire. “Why do you harp on things the way you do? Ill manage it right enough. I am

37、going round to see Dan Murphy now; he wont be hard on an old friend.” “Yes; but have you not to pay up?” “Some day, I suppose.” “Now listen, Patrick. Do be reasonable. Whenever I speak of money you fight shy of the subject.” “I dontI dont,” said the Squire restlessly; “but I am dead tired. I have ha

38、d a ride of thirty miles; I want my tea. Where is Nora? Do you mind my calling her? Shell order Pegeen to bring the tea here.” “No; I wont have it. Well have tea in the dining room presently. I thought you objected to afternoon tea.” “So I do, as a rule; but I am mighty dhrythirsty, I mean, Ellen. W

39、ell, all the better; Ill get more to drink in the dining room. Order the tea as soon as you please.” “Ring the bell, Patrick.” The Squire strode to the mantelpiece, pulled a bell-cord which hung from the ceiling, a distant bell was heard ringing in noisy fashion, and a moment afterward Pegeen put in

40、 her head. “Come right in, Margaret,” said her mistress. “Aw! then, Im sorry, maam, I forgot,” said the girl. She came in, hiding both her hands under her apron. Mrs. OShanaghgan uttered an impatient sigh. “It is impossible to train these creatures,” she said under her breath. Aloud, she gave her or

41、der in quiet, impassive tones: “Tea as soon as possible in the west parlor, and sound the gong when it is ready.” “Why, then, wasnt I getting it?” said Pegeen. She left the room, leaving the door wide open. “Just like them,” said Mrs. OShanaghgan. “When you want the door open they invariably shut it

42、, and when you want it shut they leave it open.” “They do that in England too, as far as I can tell,” said the Squire, with a slightly nettled tone in his voice. “Well, now, Patrick, while we have a few moments to ourselves, I want to know what you mean to do about that ten thousand pounds?” “I am s

43、ure, Ellen, it is more than I can tell you.” “You will have to pay it, you know.” “I suppose so, some day. Ill speak to Dan to-night. He is the last man to be hard on a chap.” “Some more of the land must go,” said the wife in a fretful tone. “Our rent-roll will be still smaller. There will be still

44、less money to educate Terence. I had set my heart on his going to Cambridge or Oxford. You quite forget that he is eighteen now.” “Cambridge or Oxford!” said the Squire. “Not a bit of it. My son shall either go to Old Trinity or he does without a university education. Cambridge or Oxford indeed! You

45、 forget, Ellen, that the lad is my son as well as yours.” “I dont; but he is half an Englishman, three parts an Englishman, whatever his fatherhood,” said the Squires wife in a tone of triumph. “Well, well! he is Terence OShanaghgan, for all that, and he will inherit this old place some day.” “Much

46、there will be for him to inherit.” Eager steps were heard on the gravel, and the next instant Nora entered by the open window. “I have given the order,” she said; “Angus will have the trap round in a quarter of an hour.” “Thats right, my girl; you didnt let time drag,” said her father. “Angus wants

47、you and mother to be quite ready, for he says Black Bess is nearly off her head with spirit. Now, then, mother, shall I go upstairs and bring down your things?” “I dont mind if you do, Nora; my back aches a good bit.” “Well put the air-cushion in the trap,” said the Squire, who, notwithstanding her

48、fine-lady airs, had a great respect and admiration for his wife. “Well make you right cozy, Ellen, and a rattle through the air will do you a sight of good.” “May I drive, father?” said Nora. “You, little one? Suppose you bring Black Bess down on her knees? That horse is worth three hundred pounds, if shes worth a penny.” “Do you think I would?” said the girl reproachfully. “Now, dad, that is about t