登陆注册
5697600000015

第15章 ACT II(7)

NORA [answering in spite of herself in a sudden spring of bitterness].I should think you ought to know better than me whether you're interfering with him.You've seen him oftener than I have.You know him better than I do,by this time.You've come to me quicker than he has,haven't you?

BROADBENT.I'm bound to tell you,Miss Reilly,that Larry has not arrived in Rosscullen yet.He meant to get here before me;but his car broke down;and he may not arrive until to-morrow.

NORA [her face lighting up].Is that the truth?

BROADBENT.Yes:that's the truth.[She gives a sigh of relief].

You're glad of that?

NORA [up in arms at once].Glad indeed!Why should I be glad?As we've waited eighteen years for him we can afford to wait a day longer,I should think.

BROADBENT.If you really feel like that about him,there may be a chance for another man yet.Eh?

NORA [deeply offended].I suppose people are different in England,Mr Broadbent;so perhaps you don't mean any harm.In Ireland nobody'd mind what a man'd say in fun,nor take advantage of what a woman might say in answer to it.If a woman couldn't talk to a man for two minutes at their first meeting without being treated the way you're treating me,no decent woman would ever talk to a man at all.

BROADBENT.I don't understand that.I don't admit that.I am sincere;and my intentions are perfectly honorable.I think you will accept the fact that I'm an Englishman as a guarantee that Iam not a man to act hastily or romantically,though I confess that your voice had such an extraordinary effect on me just now when you asked me so quaintly whether I was making love to you--NORA [flushing]I never thought--

BROADHHNT [quickly].Of course you didn't.I'm not so stupid as that.But I couldn't bear your laughing at the feeling it gave me.You--[again struggling with a surge of emotion]you don't know what I--[he chokes for a moment and then blurts out with unnatural steadiness]Will you be my wife?

NORA [promptly].Deed I won't.The idea![Looking at him more carefully]Arra,come home,Mr Broadbent;and get your senses back again.I think you're not accustomed to potcheen punch in the evening after your tea.

BROADBENT [horrified].Do you mean to say that I--I--I--my God!

that I appear drunk to you,Miss Reilly?

NORA [compassionately].How many tumblers had you?

BROADBENT [helplessly].Two.

NORA.The flavor of the turf prevented you noticing the strength of it.You'd better come home to bed.

BROADBENT [fearfully agitated].But this is such a horrible doubt to put into my mind--to--to--For Heaven's sake,Miss Reilly,am Ireally drunk?

NORA [soothingly].You'll be able to judge better in the morning.

Come on now back with me,an think no more about it.[She takes his arm with motherly solicitude and urges him gently toward the path].

BROADBENT [yielding in despair].I must be drunk--frightfully drunk;for your voice drove me out of my senses [he stumbles over a stone].No:on my word,on my most sacred word of honor,Miss Reilly,I tripped over that stone.It was an accident;it was indeed.

NORA.Yes,of course it was.Just take my arm,Mr Broadbent,while we're goin down the path to the road.You'll be all right then.

BROADBENT [submissively taking it].I can't sufficiently apologize,Miss Reilly,or express my sense of your kindness when I am in such a disgusting state.How could I be such a bea--[he trips again]damn the heather!my foot caught in it.

NORA.Steady now,steady.Come along:come.[He is led down to the road in the character of a convicted drunkard.To him there it something divine in the sympathetic indulgence she substitutes for the angry disgust with which one of his own countrywomen would resent his supposed condition.And he has no suspicion of the fact,or of her ignorance of it,that when an Englishman is sentimental he behaves very much as an Irishman does when he is drunk].

同类推荐
  • 责汉水辞

    责汉水辞

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 明伦汇编家范典妻族部

    明伦汇编家范典妻族部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 山海慧菩萨经

    山海慧菩萨经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • A Woman-Hater

    A Woman-Hater

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 阿毗达磨界身足论

    阿毗达磨界身足论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 明伦汇编人事典志愿部

    明伦汇编人事典志愿部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 蛋

    陈集益,70后重要作家。曾就读于鲁迅文学院第七届中青年作家高级研讨班。浙江省作协签约作家。在《十月》《人民文学》《中国作家》《钟山》《天涯》等大型文学期刊发表小说六十万字。2009年获《十月》新锐人物奖。2010年获浙江省青年文学之星奖。
  • 喜欢你这件小事

    喜欢你这件小事

    时隔三年,从未有过任何交流的男神林唯一突然出现在沈橙橙的面前。没有寒暄没有问候,他对她说的第一句话就是:“和我交往吧。”沈橙橙以为这只是平淡生活中的一个玩笑。可谁知道,她踮脚张望了林唯一多少年,林唯一亦回望了她多少年。跟随林唯一而来的,还有那些藏在回忆里的人。时间的尘埃被人抚去,他们从落幕处走回台前。接踵而来的事件,逆转了每一个人藏在光阴里的执念。可无论经历什么,林唯一只想做沈橙橙的唯一。
  • 她们:终将与你在岁月里相见

    她们:终将与你在岁月里相见

    关于10多位中外知名文艺界女性的合传,有女演员、女作家,比如香奈儿、赫本、海伦凯勒、简奥斯丁、伍尔夫、三毛、张爱玲等。茫茫尘世里,她们为着心中的梦想勇敢前行,或温柔、或狠戾,或从容,或勇敢……她们有着不同的性格与命运,但是都有一个共同点——为了心中的梦想,勇敢地去追求。她们,是这世界里不折不扣的女王。本书精选这些女性的成长故事、人生路径,她们并非高不可攀,她们其实有与普通人一样的喜怒哀乐,从中读者可以看见自己的成长。
  • 网游之逆世巅峰

    网游之逆世巅峰

    各大正派豪侠纷纷响应聚集麾下誓与邪教决战到底。心中念苍生剑中有正气莫笑英雄年少身可灭意不绝侠义精神永不消江湖恩怨儿女情长国仇家恨烟起八荒武林大势从何而起又从何而终一切由你决定!
  • 末世之丧尸系统

    末世之丧尸系统

    末世降临,可她却变成了丧尸一只,身为一只悲剧丧尸,她该如何在末世生存?丧尸系统,让她变成丧尸中的人类,人类中的丧尸。且看小小丧尸,末世惊天逆转,谁说丧尸的终点只有死亡,看我小小丧尸逆转乾坤……
  • 铁琴铜剑楼藏书目录

    铁琴铜剑楼藏书目录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 神级驯兽师:妖妃祸国

    神级驯兽师:妖妃祸国

    【本书已弃坑!本书已弃坑!本书已弃坑!重要的事情说三遍!】
  • 明伦汇编人事典卷人事总部

    明伦汇编人事典卷人事总部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 农村美好家园读本

    农村美好家园读本

    《金阳光新农村丛书》围绕农民朋友十分关心的具体话题,分“新农民技术能手“新农业产业拓展”和“新农村和谐社会三个系列”,分批出版。“新农民技术能手”系列除了传授实用的农业技术,还介绍了如何闯市场、如何经营;“新农业产业拓展”系列介绍了现代农业的新趋势、新模式;“新农村和谐社会”系列包括农村政策宣讲、常见病防治、乡村文化室建立,还对农民进城务工的一些知识作了介绍。全书新颖实用,简明易懂。