The Enchanted April Gradually Hardening Portuguese B2 Books

Chapter1

ItbeganinaWoman’sClubinLondonona

Fevereiro

Februaryafternoon—anuncomfortableclub,andamiserableafternoon—whenMrs.Wilkins,whohadcomedownfromHampsteadtoshopandhadlunchedatherclub,tookupTheTimesfromthetableinthesmoking-room,andrunningherlistlesseyedownthe

Agonia

AgonyColumnsawthis:.

ToThosewhoAppreciateWistariaandSunshine.

SmallmediaevalItalianCastleontheshoresofthe

Mediterrâneo

MediterraneantobeLetFurnishedforthemonthofApril.

Necessaryservantsremain.

Z,Box1000,TheTimes.

Thatwasits

concepção

conception;

yet,asinthecaseofmanyanother,theconceiverwasunawareofitatthemoment.

inteiramente

entirelyunawarewasMrs.WilkinsthatherAprilforthatyearhadthenandtherebeensettledforherthatshedroppedthenewspaperwitha

gesto

gesturethatwasbothirritatedand

resignado

resigned,andwentovertothewindowandstareddrearilyoutatthedrippingstreet.

Notforherweremediaevalcastles,eventhosethatare

especialmente

speciallydescribedassmall.

NotforhertheshoresinAprilofthe

Mediterrâneo

Mediterranean,andthewistariaand

sol

sunshine.

Suchdelightswereonlyfortherich.

Yetthe

anúncio

advertisementhadbeenaddressedtopersonswhoappreciatethesethings,sothatithadbeen,anyhow,addressedtootoher,forshecertainlyappreciatedthem;

morethananybodyknew;

morethanshehadevertold.

Butshewaspoor.

Inthewholeworldshe

possuía

possessedofherveryownonlyninetypounds,savedfromyeartoyear,putbycarefully

libra

poundbypound,outofherdress

subsídio

allowance.

Shehadscrapedthis

soma

sumtogetheratthesuggestionofherhusbandasa

escudo

shieldandrefugeagainsta

chuvoso

rainyday.

Herdressallowance,givenherbyherfather,was£100ayear,sothatMrs.Wilkins’sclotheswerewhatherhusband,

exortando

urginghertosave,calledmodestandbecoming,andher

familiaridade

acquaintancetoeachother,whentheyspokeofheratall,whichwas

raro

seldomforshewasverynegligible,calledaperfectsight.

Mr.

Wilkins,a

advogado

solicitor,encouragedthrift,exceptthat

ramo

branchofitwhichgotintohisfood.

Hedidnotcallthatthrift,hecalleditbadhousekeeping.

Butforthethriftwhich,like

mariposa

moth,penetratedintoMrs.Wilkins’sclothesand

estragou

spoiltthem,hehadmuch

elogio

praise.

“Youneverknow,”hesaid,“whentherewillbea

chuvoso

rainyday,andyoumaybeverygladtofindyouhaveanest-egg.

Indeedwebothmay.”

LookingoutoftheclubwindowintoShaftesburyAvenue—herswasaneconomicalclub,but

conveniente

convenientforHampstead,whereshelived,andforShoolbred’s,wheresheshopped—Mrs.

Wilkins,havingstoodtheresometimeverydrearily,hermind’seyeonthe

Mediterrâneo

MediterraneaninApril,andthewistaria,andtheenviableopportunitiesoftherich,whileherbodilyeyewatchedthereallyextremelyhorriblesootyrainfalling

constantemente

steadilyonthehurryingumbrellasandsplashingomnibuses,suddenlywonderedwhetherperhapsthiswasnottherainydayMellersh—MellershwasMr.Wilkins—hadsooften

encorajado

encouragedhertopreparefor,andwhethertogetoutofsucha

clima

climateandintothesmallmediaevalcastlewasn’tperhapswhat

Providência

Providencehadallalongintendedhertodowithhersavings.

Partofhersavings,ofcourse;

perhapsquiteasmallpart.

Thecastle,beingmediaeval,mightalsobedilapidated,anddilapidationsweresurelycheap.

Shewouldn’tintheleastmindafewofthem,becauseyoudidn’tpayfordilapidationswhichwerealreadythere;

onthecontrary—by

reduzir

reducingthepriceyouhadtopaytheyreallypaidyou.

Butwhatnonsensetothinkofit...

Sheturnedawayfromthewindowwiththesame

gesto

gestureofmingledirritationand

resignação

resignationwithwhichshehadlaiddownTheTimes,andcrossedtheroomtowardsthedoorwiththe

intenção

intentionofgettinghermackintoshand

guarda-chuva

umbrellaandfightingherwayintooneoftheovercrowdedomnibusesandgoingtoShoolbred’sonherwayhomeandbuyingsomesolesforMellersh’sdinner—Mellershwasdifficultwithfishandlikedonlysoles,exceptsalmon—whenshebeheldMrs.Arbuthnot,awomansheknewbysightasalsolivinginHampsteadandbelongingtotheclub,sittingatthetableinthemiddleoftheroomonwhichthenewspapersandmagazineswerekept,absorbed,inherturn,inthefirstpageofTheTimes.

Mrs.

WilkinshadneveryetspokentoMrs.Arbuthnot,whobelongedtooneofthe

vários

variouschurchsets,andwhoanalysed,classified,

dividiu

dividedandregisteredthepoor;

whereassheandMellersh,whentheydidgoout,wenttothepartiesofimpressionistpainters,ofwhominHampsteadthereweremany.

Mellershhadasisterwhohadmarriedoneofthemandliveduponthe

Heath

Heath,andbecauseofthis

aliança

allianceMrs.Wilkinswasdrawnintoacirclewhichwashighly

antinatural

unnaturaltoher,andshehadlearnedtodreadpictures.

Shehadtosaythingsaboutthem,andshedidn’tknowwhattosay.

Sheusedtomurmur,“Marvellous,”andfeelthatitwasnotenough.

Butnobodyminded.

Nobodylistened.

NobodytookanynoticeofMrs.Wilkins.

Shewasthekindofpersonwhoisnotnoticedatparties.

Herclothes,infestedbythrift,madeher

praticamente

practicallyinvisible;

herfacewasnon-arresting;

herconversationwas

relutante

reluctant;

shewasshy.

Andifone’sclothesandfaceandconversationareallnegligible,thoughtMrs.Wilkins,who

reconheceu

recognisedherdisabilities,what,atparties,isthereleftofone?

AlsoshewasalwayswithWilkins,thatclean-shaven,fine-lookingman,whogaveaparty,

apenas

merelybycomingtoit,agreatair.

Wilkinswasvery

respeitável

respectable.

Hewasknowntobehighlythoughtofbyhisseniorpartners.

Hissister’scircle

admirava

admiredhim.

Hepronouncedadequatelyintelligentjudgmentsonartandartists.

Hewaspithy;

hewas

prudente

prudent;

heneversaidawordtoomuch,nor,ontheotherhand,didheeversayawordtoolittle.

produziu

producedtheimpressionofkeepingcopiesofeverythinghesaid;

andhewassoobviously

confiável

reliablethatitoftenhappenedthatpeoplewhomethimatthesepartiesbecamediscontentedwiththeirownsolicitors,andafteraperiodof

inquietação

restlessnessextricatedthemselvesandwenttoWilkins.

Naturalmente

NaturallyMrs.Wilkinswasblottedout.

“She,”saidhissister,withsomethingherselfofthe

judicial

judicial,thedigested,andthefinalinher

maneira

manner,“shouldstayathome.”

ButWilkinscouldnotleavehiswifeathome.

Hewasafamily

advogado

solicitor,andallsuchhavewivesandshowthem.

Withhisintheweekhewenttoparties,andwithhisonSundayshewenttochurch.

Beingstill

bastante

fairlyyoung—hewasthirty-nine—andambitiousofoldladies,ofwhomhehadnotyetacquiredinhispracticea

suficiente

sufficientnumber,hecouldnotaffordtomisschurch,anditwastherethatMrs.Wilkinsbecamefamiliar,thoughneverthroughwords,withMrs.Arbuthnot.

Shesawhermarshallingthechildrenofthepoorintopews.

Shewouldcomeinattheheadofthe

procissão

processionfromtheSundaySchoolexactlyfiveminutesbeforethe

coro

choir,andgetherboysandgirlsneatlyfittedintotheirallottedseats,anddownontheirlittlekneesintheir

preliminar

preliminaryprayer,andupagainontheirfeetjustas,tothe

inchado

swellingorgan,thevestrydooropened,andthe

coro

choirandclergy,bigwiththelitaniesandcommandmentstheywerepresentlytorollout,

emergiam

emerged.

Shehadasadface,yetshewas

evidentemente

evidentlyefficient.

ThecombinationusedtomakeMrs.Wilkinswonder,forshehadbeentoldbyMellersh,ondayswhenshehadonlybeenabletogetplaice,thatifonewere

eficiente

efficientonewouldn’tbedepressed,andthatifonedoesone’sjobwellonebecomes

automaticamente

automaticallybrightandbrisk.

AboutMrs.Arbuthnottherewasnothingbrightandbrisk,thoughmuchinherwaywiththeSundaySchoolchildrenthatwas

automático

automatic;

butwhenMrs.Wilkins,turningfromthewindow,caughtsightofherintheclubshewasnotbeingautomaticatall,butwaslookingfixedlyatone

parte

portionofthefirstpageofTheTimes,holdingthepaperquitestill,hereyesnotmoving.

Shewasjuststaring;

andherface,asusual,wasthefaceofapatientanddisappointedMadonna.

Obeyingan

impulso

impulseshewonderedatevenwhileobeyingit,Mrs.Wilkins,theshyandthe

relutante

reluctant,insteadofproceedingasshehadintendedtothecloakroomandfromthencetoSchoolbred’sinsearchofMellersh’sfish,stoppedatthetableandsatdownexactlyoppositeMrs.Arbuthnot,towhomshehadneveryetspokeninherlife.

Itwasoneofthoselong,

estreitas

narrowrefectorytables,sothattheywerequiteclosetoeachother.

Mrs.

Arbuthnot,however,didnotlookup.

Shecontinuedto

olhar

gaze,witheyesthatseemedtobedreaming,atonespotonlyofTheTimes.

Mrs.

Wilkinswatchedheraminute,tryingtoscrewupcouragetospeaktoher.

Shewantedtoaskherifshehadseenthe

anúncio

advertisement.

Shedidnotknowwhyshewantedtoaskherthis,butshewantedto.

Howstupidnottobeabletospeaktoher.

Shelookedsokind.

Shelookedsounhappy.

Whycouldn’ttwounhappypeople

refrescar

refresheachotherontheirwaythroughthis

poeirento

dustybusinessoflifebyalittletalk—real,naturaltalk,aboutwhattheyfelt,whattheywouldhaveliked,whattheystilltriedtohope?

AndshecouldnothelpthinkingthatMrs.Arbuthnot,too,wasreadingthatverysame

anúncio

advertisement.

Hereyeswereontheverypartofthepaper.

Wasshe,too,picturingwhatitwouldbelike—the

cor

colour,thefragrance,thelight,thesoftlappingoftheseaamonglittlehotrocks?

Cor

Colour,fragrance,light,sea;

insteadofShaftesburyAvenue,andthewetomnibuses,andthefishdepartmentatShoolbred’s,andtheTubetoHampstead,anddinner,andto-morrowthesameandthedayafterthesameandalwaysthesame...

SuddenlyMrs.Wilkinsfoundherselfleaningacrossthetable.

“Areyoureadingaboutthemediaevalcastleandthewistaria?”

sheheardherselfasking.

Naturalmente

NaturallyMrs.Arbuthnotwassurprised;

butshewasnothalfsomuchsurprisedasMrs.Wilkinswasatherselfforasking.

Mrs.

Arbuthnothadnotyettoherknowledgeseteyesontheshabby,lank,loosely-put-togetherfiguresittingoppositeher,withitssmallfreckledfaceandbiggreyeyesalmostdisappearingunderasmashed-downwet-weatherhat,andshegazedatheramomentwithoutanswering.

Shewasreadingaboutthemediaevalcastleandthewistaria,orratherhadreadaboutittenminutesbefore,andsincethenhadbeenlostindreams—oflight,of

cor

colour,offragrance,ofthesoftlappingoftheseaamonglittlehotrocks...

“Whydoyouaskmethat?”

shesaidinhergravevoice,forhertrainingofandbythepoorhadmadehergraveandpatient.

Mrs.

Wilkinsflushedandlookedexcessivelyshyand

assustado

frightened.

“Oh,onlybecauseIsawittoo,andIthoughtperhaps—Ithoughtsomehow—”

shestammered.

WhereuponMrs.Arbuthnot,hermindbeingusedtogettingpeopleintolistsanddivisions,from

hábito

habitconsidered,asshegazedthoughtfullyatMrs.Wilkins,underwhatheading,supposingshehadtoclassifyher,shecouldmostproperlybeput.

“AndIknowyoubysight,”wentonMrs.Wilkins,who,likealltheshy,onceshewasstarted

mergulhar

plungedon,frighteningherselftomoreandmorespeechbythe

puro

sheersoundofwhatshehadsaidlastinherears.

“EverySunday—IseeyoueverySundayinchurch—”.

“Inchurch?”

ecoou

echoedMrs.Arbuthnot.

“Andthisseemssuchawonderfulthing—this

anúncio

advertisementaboutthewistaria—and—”.

Mrs.

Wilkins,whomusthavebeenatleastthirty,brokeoffandwriggledinherchairwiththemovementofanawkwardandembarrassedschoolgirl.

“Itseemssowonderful,”shewentoninakindof

explosão

burst,“and—itissuchamiserableday...”

AndthenshesatlookingatMrs.Arbuthnotwiththeeyesofanimprisoneddog.

“Thispoorthing,”thoughtMrs.Arbuthnot,whoselifewasspentinhelpingandalleviating,“needsadvice.”

Sheaccordinglypreparedherself

pacientemente

patientlytogiveit.

“Ifyouseemeinchurch,”shesaid,kindlyandattentively,“IsupposeyouliveinHampsteadtoo?”

“Ohyes,”saidMrs.Wilkins.

Andsherepeated,herheadonitslongthinneckdroopingalittleasiftherecollectionofHampsteadbowedher,“Ohyes.”

“Where?”

askedMrs.Arbuthnot,who,whenadvicewasneeded,

naturalmente

naturallyfirstproceededtocollectthefacts.

ButMrs.Wilkins,layingherhand

suavemente

softlyandcaressinglyonthepartofTheTimeswherethe

anúncio

advertisementwas,asthoughthe

meras

mereprintedwordsofitwereprecious,onlysaid,“Perhapsthat’swhythisseemssowonderful.”

“No—Ithinkthat’swonderfulanyhow,”saidMrs.Arbuthnot,forgettingfactsandfaintly

suspirando

sighing.

“Thenyouwerereadingit?”

“Yes,”saidMrs.Arbuthnot,hereyesgoingdreamyagain.

“Wouldn’titbewonderful?”

murmuredMrs.Wilkins.

“Wonderful,”saidMrs.Arbuthnot.

Herface,whichhad

iluminado

litup,fadedintopatienceagain.

“Verywonderful,”shesaid.

“Butit’snousewastingone’stimethinkingofsuchthings.”

“Oh,butitis,”wasMrs.Wilkins’squick,surprising

resposta

reply;

surprisingbecauseitwassomuchunliketherestofher—thecharacterlesscoatand

saia

skirt,thecrumpledhat,theundecidedwispofhairstragglingout.

“Andjusttheconsideringofthemisworthwhileinitself—suchachangefromHampstead—andsometimesIbelieve—Ireallydobelieve—ifoneconsidershardenoughonegetsthings.”

Mrs.

Arbuthnot

observou

observedherpatiently.

Inwhat

categoria

categorywouldshe,supposingshehadto,puther?

“Perhaps,”shesaid,leaningforwardalittle,“youwilltellmeyourname.

Ifwearetobefriends”—shesmiledhergravesmile—“asIhopeweare,wehadbetterbeginatthebeginning.”

“Ohyes—howkindofyou.

I’mMrs.Wilkins,”saidMrs.Wilkins.

“Idon’texpect,”sheadded,flushing,asMrs.Arbuthnotsaidnothing,“thatit

transmita

conveysanythingtoyou.

Sometimesit—itdoesn’tseemto

transmitir

conveyanythingtomeeither.

But”—shelookedroundwithamovementofseekinghelp—“IamMrs.Wilkins.”

Shedidnotlikehername.

Itwasamean,smallname,withakindoffacetioustwist,shethought,aboutitsendlikethe

ascendente

upwardcurveofapugdog’stail.

Thereitwas,however.

Therewasnodoinganythingwithit.

WilkinsshewasandWilkinsshewouldremain;

andthoughherhusband

encorajasse

encouragedhertogiveitonalloccasionsasMrs.Mellersh-Wilkinssheonlydidthatwhenhewaswithinearshot,forshethoughtMellershmadeWilkinsworse,emphasisingitinthewayChatsworthonthegate-postsofa

vila

villaemphasisesthevilla.

WhenfirsthesuggestedsheshouldaddMellershshehadobjectedfortheabovereason,andafterapause—Mellershwasmuchtoo

prudente

prudenttospeakexceptaftera

pausa

pause,duringwhichpresumablyhewastakingacarefulmentalcopyofhiscomingobservation—hesaid,muchdispleased,“ButIamnotavilla,”andlookedatherashelookswhohopes,forperhapsthehundredthtime,thathemaynothavemarriedafool.

Ofcoursehewasnota

vila

villa,Mrs.Wilkinsassuredhim;

shehadneversupposedhewas;

shehadnotdreamedofmeaning...

shewasonlyjustthinking...

Themoresheexplainedthemore

séria

earnestbecameMellersh’shope,familiartohimbythistime,forhehadthenbeenahusbandfortwoyears,thathemightnotbyanychancehavemarriedafool;

andtheyhadaprolonged

disputa

quarrel,ifthatcanbecalleda

disputa

quarrelwhichisconductedwithdignifiedsilenceononesideandearnest

desculpas

apologyontheother,astowhetherornoMrs.WilkinshadintendedtosuggestthatMr.Wilkinswasavilla.

“Ibelieve,”shehadthoughtwhenitwasatlastover—ittookalongwhile—“thatanybodywould

discutiria

quarrelaboutanythingwhenthey’venotleftoffbeingtogetherforasingledayfortwowholeyears.

Whatwebothneedisaholiday.”

“Myhusband,”wentonMrs.WilkinstoMrs.Arbuthnot,tryingtothrowsomelightonherself,“isa

advogado

solicitor.

He—”

ShecastaboutforsomethingshecouldsayelucidatoryofMellersh,andfound:

“He’sveryhandsome.”

“Well,”saidMrs.Arbuthnot

gentilmente

kindly,“thatmustbeagreatpleasuretoyou.”

“Why?”

askedMrs.Wilkins.

“Because,”saidMrs.Arbuthnot,alittletakenaback,forconstant

relações

intercoursewiththepoorhadaccustomedhertohaveherpronouncementsacceptedwithoutquestion,“becausebeauty—handsomeness—isagiftlikeanyother,andifitisproperlyused—”.

Shetrailedoffintosilence.

Mrs.Wilkins’sgreatgreyeyeswerefixedonher,anditseemedsuddenlytoMrs.Arbuthnotthatperhapsshewasbecomingcrystallisedintoa

hábito

habitofexposition,andofexpositionafterthe

maneira

mannerofnursemaids,throughhavinganaudiencethatcouldn’tbutagree,thatwouldbeafraid,ifitwished,to

interromper

interrupt,thatdidn’tknow,thatwas,infact,athermercy.

ButMrs.Wilkinswasnotlistening;

forjustthen,

absurdo

absurdasitseemed,apicturehadflashedacrossherbrain,andthereweretwofiguresinitsittingtogetherunderagreattrailingwistariathatstretchedacrossthebranchesofatreeshedidn’tknow,anditwasherselfandMrs.Arbuthnot—shesawthem—shesawthem.

Andbehindthem,brightin

sol

sunshine,wereoldgreywalls—themediaevalcastle—shesawit—theywerethere...

ShethereforestaredatMrs.Arbuthnotanddidnothearawordshesaid.

AndMrs.ArbuthnotstaredtooatMrs.Wilkins,arrestedbythe

expressão

expressiononherface,whichwassweptbythe

excitação

excitementofwhatshesaw,andwasasluminousandtremulousunderitaswaterin

sol

sunlightwhenitisruffledbyagustofwind.

Atthismoment,ifshehadbeenataparty,Mrs.Wilkinswouldhavebeenlookedatwithinterest.

Theystaredateachother;

Mrs.Arbuthnotsurprised,inquiringly,Mrs.Wilkinswiththeeyesofsomeonewhohashada

revelação

revelation.

Ofcourse.

Thatwashowitcouldbedone.

Sheherself,shebyherself,couldn’taffordit,andwouldn’tbeable,evenifshecouldaffordit,togothereallalone;

butsheandMrs.Arbuthnottogether...

Sheleanedacrossthetable.

“Whydon’twetryandgetit?”

she

sussurrou

whispered.

Mrs.

Arbuthnotbecameevenmorewide-eyed.

“Getit?”

sherepeated.

“Yes,”saidMrs.Wilkins,stillasthoughshewereafraidofbeingoverheard.

“NotjustsithereandsayHowwonderful,andthengohometoHampsteadwithouthavingputoutafinger—gohomejustasusualandseeaboutthedinnerandthefishjustaswe’vebeendoingforyearsandyearsandwillgoondoingforyearsandyears.

Infact,”saidMrs.Wilkins,flushingtotherootsofherhair,forthesoundofwhatshewassaying,ofwhatwascoming

derramando

pouringout,frightenedher,andyetshecouldn’tstop,“Iseenoendtoit.

Thereisnoendtoit.

Sothatthereoughttobeabreak,thereoughttobeintervals—ineverybody’sinterests.

Why,itwouldreallybebeingunselfishtogoawayandbehappyforalittle,becausewewouldcomebacksomuchnicer.

Yousee,afterabiteverybodyneedsaholiday.”

“But—howdoyoumean,getit?”

askedMrs.Arbuthnot.

“Takeit,”saidMrs.Wilkins.

“Takeit?”

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