第4章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"WIVES AND DAUGHTERS",免费读到尾

  LordHollingford,theeldestson,hadlosthiswife,andwasagooddealmoreattheTowerssincehehadbecomeawidower。Hewasatallungainlyman,consideredtobeasproudashismother,thecountess;but,infact,hewasonlyshy,andslowatmakingcommonplacespeeches。Hedidnotknowwhattosaytopeoplewhosedailyhabitsandinterestswerenotthesameashis;hewouldhavebeenverythankfulforahandbookofsmall—talk,andwouldhavelearntoffhissentenceswithgood—humoureddiligence。Heoftenenviedthefluencyofhisgarrulousfather,whodelightedintalkingtoeverybody,andwasperfectlyunconsciousoftheincoherenceofhisconversation。

  But,owingtohisconstitutionalreserveandshyness,LordHollingfordwasnotapopularman,althoughhiskindnessofheartwasverygreat,hissimplicityofcharacterextreme,andhisscientificacquirementsconsiderableenoughtoentitlehimtomuchreputationintheEuropeanrepublicoflearnedmen。InthisrespectHollingfordwasproudofhim。Theinhabitantsknewthatthegreat,grave,clumsyheirtoitsfealtywashighlyesteemedforhiswisdom;andthathehadmadeoneortwodiscoveries,thoughinwhatdirectiontheywerenotquitesure。Butitwassafetopointhimouttostrangersvisitingthelittletown,as’That’sLordHollingford—thefamousLordHollingford,youknow;youmusthaveheardofhim,heissoscientific。’

  Ifthestrangersknewhisname,theyalsoknewhisclaimstofame;iftheydidnot,tentoonebuttheywouldmakeasiftheydid,andsoconcealnotonlytheirownignorance,butthatoftheircompanions,istotheexactnatureofthesourcesofhisreputation。Hewasleftawidower,withtwoorthreeboys。Theywereatapublicschool;

  sothattheircompanionshipcouldmakethehouseinwhichhehadpassedhismarriedlifebutlittleofahometohim,andheconsequentlyspentmuchofhistimeattheTowers;wherehismotherwasproudofhim,andhisfatherveryfond,buteversolittleafraidofhim。HisfriendswerealwayswelcomedbyLordandLadyCumnor;theformer,indeed,wasinthehabitofwelcomingeverybodyeverywhere;butitwasaproofofLadyCumnor’srealaffectionforherdistinguishedson,thatsheallowedhimtoaskwhatshecalled’allsortsofpeople’totheTowers。’Allsortsofpeople’meantreallythosewhoweredistinguishedforscienceandlearning,withoutregardtorank;and,itmustbeconfessed,withoutmuchregardtopolishedmannerslikewise。MrHall,MrGibson’spredecessor,hadalwaysbeenreceivedwithfriendlycondescensionbymylady,whohadfoundhimestablishedasthefamilymedicalman,whenfirstshecametotheTowersonhermarriage;butsheneverthoughtofinterferingwithhiscustomoftakinghismeals,ifheneededrefreshment,inthehousekeeper’sroom,notwiththehousekeeper,bienentendu。

  Thecomfortable,clever,stout,andred—faceddoctorwouldverymuchhavepreferredthis,evenifhehadhadthechoicegivenhim(whichheneverhad)oftakinghis’snack,’ashecalledit,withmylordandmylady,inthegranddining—room。Ofcourse,ifsomegreatsurgicalgun(likeSirAstley)wasbroughtdownfromLondontobearonthefamily’shealth,itwasduetohim,aswellastothelocalmedicalattendant,toaskMrHalltodinner,inaformalandceremoniousmanner,onwhichoccasionsMrHallburiedhischininvoluminousfoldsofwhitemuslin,putonhisblackknee—breeches,withbunchesofribbonatthesides,hissilkstockingsandbuckledshoes,andotherwisemadehimselfexcessivelyuncomfortableinhisattire,andwentforthinstateinapost—chaisefromthe’George,’consolinghimselfintheprivatecornerofhisheartforthediscomforthewasenduringwiththeideaofhowwellitwouldsoundthenextdayinthecarsofthesquireswhomhewasinthehabitofattending。’Yesterdayatdinnertheearlsaid,’

  or’thecountessremarked,’or’IwassurprisedtohearwhenIwasdiningattheTowersyesterday。’ButsomehowthingshadchangedsinceMrGibsonhadbecome’thedoctor’parexcellenceatHollingford。TheMissBrowningsthoughtthatitwasbecausehehadsuchanelegantfigure,and’suchadistinguishedmanner;’MrsGoodenough,’becauseofhisaristocraticconnections’—’thesonofaScotchduke,mydear,nevermindonwhichsideoftheblanket’—butthefactwascertain;althoughhemightfrequentlyaskMrsBrowntogivehimsomethingtocatinthehousekeeper’sroom—

  hehadnotimeforallthefussandceremonyofluncheonwithmylady—

  hewasalwayswelcometothegrandestcircleofvisitorsinthehouse。

  Hemightlunchwithadukeanydaythathechose;giventhatadukewasforthcomingattheTowers。HisaccentwasScotch,notprovincial。Hehadnotanounceofsuperfluousfleshonhisbones;andleannessgoesagreatwaytogentility。Hiscomplexionwassallow,andhishairblack;inthosedays,thedecadeaftertheconclusionofthegreatcontinentalwar,tobesallowandblack—a—visedwasofitselfadistinction;’hewasnotjovial(asmylordremarkedwithasigh,butitwasmyladywhoendorsedtheinvitations),sparingofhiswords,intelligent,andslightlysarcastic。Thereforehewasperfectlypresentable。HisScotchblood(forthathewasofScotchdescenttherecouldbenomannerofdoubt)gavehimjustthekindofthistlydignitywhichmadeeveryonefeelthattheymusttreathimwithrespect;soonthatheadhewasassured。

  ThegrandeurofbeinganinvitedguesttodinnerattheTowersfromtimetotime,gavehimbutlittlepleasureformanyyears,butitwasaformtobegonethroughinthewayofhisprofession,withoutanyideaofsocialgratification。ButwhenLordHollingfordreturnedtomaketheTowershishome,affairswerealtered。MrGibsonreallyheardandlearntthingsthatinterestedhimseriously,andthatgaveafreshflavourtohisreading。Fromtimetotimehemettheleadersofthescientificworld;odd—looking,simple—heartedmen,verymuchinearnestabouttheirownparticularsubjects,andnothavingmuchtosayonanyother。MrGibsonfoundhimselfcapableofappreciatingsuchpersons,andalsoperceivedthattheyvaluedhisappreciation,asitwashonestlyandintelligentlygiven。Indeed,by—and—by,hebegantosendcontributionsofhisowntothemorescientificofthemedicaljournals,andthuspartlyinreceiving,partlyingivingoutinformationandaccuratethought,anewzestwasaddedtohislife。TherewasnotmuchintercoursebetweenLordHollingfordandhimself;theonewastoosilentandshy,theothertoobusy,toseekeachother’ssocietywiththeperseverancerequiredtodoawaywiththesocialdistinctionofrankthatpreventedtheirfrequentmeetings。Buteachwasthoroughlypleasedtocomeintocontactwiththeother。Eachcouldrelyontheother’srespectandsympathywithasecurityunknowntomanywhocallthemselvesfriends;andthiswasasourceofhappinesstoboth;toMrGibsonthemostso,ofcourse;forhisrangeofintelligentandcultivatedsocietywasthesmaller。Indeed,therewasnooneequaltohimselfamongthemenwithwhomheassociated,andthishehadfeltasadepressinginfluence,althoughhehadneverrecognizedthecauseofhisdepression。TherewasMrAshton,thevicar,whohadsucceededMrBrowning,athoroughlygoodandkind—heartedman,butonewithoutanoriginalthoughtinhim;whosehabitualcourtesyandindolentmindledhimtoagreetoeveryopinion,notpalpablyheterodox,andtoutterplatitudesinthemostgentlemanlymanner。MrGibsonhadonceortwiceamusedhimself,byleadingthevicaroninhisagreeableadmissionsofarguments’asperfectlyconvincing,’

  andofstatementsas’curiousbutundoubted,’tillhehadplantedthepoorclergymaninabogofhereticalbewilderment。ButthenMrAshton’spainandsufferingatsuddenlyfindingoutintowhatatheologicalpredicamenthehadbeenbrought,hisrealself—reproachathispreviousadmissions,weresogreatthatMrGibsonlostallsenseoffun,andhastenedbacktotheThirty—nineArticleswithallthegood—willinlife,astheonlymeansofsoothingthevicar’sconscience。Onanyothersubject,exceptthatoforthodoxy,MrGibsoncouldleadhimanylengths;butthenhisignoranceonmostofthempreventedblandacquiescencefromarrivingatanyresultswhichcouldstartlehim。Hehadsomeprivatefortune,andwasnotmarried,andlivedthelifeofanindolentandrefinedbachelor;butthoughhehimselfwasnoveryactivevisitoramonghispoorerparishioners,hewasalwayswillingtorelievetheirwantsinthemostliberal,and,consideringhishabits,occasionallyinthemostself—denyingmanner,wheneverMrGibson,oranyoneelse,madethemclearlyknowntohim。’Usemypurseasfreelyasifitwasyourown,Gibson,’hewaswonttosay。’I’msuchabadoneatgoingaboutandmakingtalktopoorfolk—IdaresayIdon’tdoenoughinthatway—butIammostwillingtogiveyouanythingforanyoneyoumayconsiderinwant。’’Thankyou;Icomeuponyouprettyoften,Ibelieve,andmakeverylittlescrupleaboutit;butifyou’llallowmetosuggest,itis,thatyoushouldnottrytomaketalkwhenyougointothecottages;butjusttalk。’’Idon’tseethedifference,’saidthevicar,alittlequerulously;’butIdaresaythereisadifference,andIhavenodoubtwhatyousayisquitetrue。Ishouldnotmaketalk,buttalk;andasbothareequallydifficulttome,youmustletmepurchasetheprivilegeofsilencebythisten—poundnote。’’Thankyou。Itisnotsosatisfactorytome;and,Ishouldthink,nottoyourself。ButprobablytheJonesesandGreenswillpreferit。’MrAshtonwouldlookwithplaintiveinquiryintoMrGibson’sfaceaftersomesuchspeech,asifaskingifasarcasmwasintended。Onthewholetheywentoninthemostamicableway;onlybeyondthegregariousfeelingcommontomostmen,theyhadverylittleactualpleasureineachother’ssociety。PerhapsthemanofallotherstowhomMrGibsontookthemostkindly—atleast,untilLordHollingfordcameintotheneighbourhood—

  wasacertainSquireHamley。Heandhisancestorshadbeencalledsquireaslongbackaslocaltraditionextended。Buttherewasmanyagreaterlandownerinthecounty,forSquireHamley’sestatewasnotmorethaneighthundredacresorso。ButhisfamilyhadbeeninpossessionofitlongbeforetheEarlsofCumnorhadbeenheardof;beforetheHely—HarrisonshadboughtColdstonePark;nooneinHollingfordknewthetimewhentheHamleyshadnotlivedatHamley。’EversincetheHeptarchy,’saidthevicar。’Nay,’

  saidMissBrowning,’IhaveheardthattherewereHamleysofHamleybeforetheRomans。’Thevicarwaspreparingapoliteassent,whenMrsGoodenoughcameinwithastillmorestartlingassertion。’Ihavealwaysheerd,’saidshe,withalltheslowauthorityofanoldestinhabitant,’thattherewasHamleysofHamleyaforethetimeofthepagans。’MrAshtoncouldonlybow,andsay,’Possibly,verypossibly,madam。’ButhesaiditinsocourteousamannerthatMrsGoodenoughlookedroundinagratifiedmanner,asmuchastosay,’TheChurchconfirmsmywords;whonowwilldaredisputethem?’

  Atanyrate,theHamleyswereaveryoldfamily,ifnotaborigines。Theyhadnotincreasedtheirestateforcenturies;theyhadheldtheirown,ifevenwithaneffort,andhadnotsoldaroodofitforthelasthundredyearsorso。Buttheywerenotanadventurousrace。Theynevertraded,orspeculated,ortriedagriculturalimprovementsofanykind。Theyhadnocapitalinanybank;norwhatperhapswouldhavebeenmoreincharacter,hoardsofgoldinanystocking。Theirmodeoflifewassimple,andmorelikethatofyeomenthansquires。IndeedSquireHamley,bycontinuingtheprimitivemannersandcustomsofhisforefathers,thesquiresoftheeighteenthcentury,didlivemoreasayeoman,whensuchaclassexisted,thanasasquireofthisgeneration。Therewasadignityinthisquietconservatismthatgainedhimanimmenseamountofrespectbothfromhighandlow;andhemighthavevisitedateveryhouseinthecountyhadhesochosen。Buthewasveryindifferenttothecharmsofsociety;andperhapsthiswasowingtothefactthatthesquire,RogerHamley,whoatpresentlivedandreignedatHamley,hadnotreceivedsogoodaneducationasheoughttohavedone。Hisfather,SquireStephen,hadbeenpluckedatOxford,and,withstubbornpride,hehadrefusedtogoupagain。Nay,more!hehadswornagreatoath,asmendidinthosedays,thatnoneofhischildrentocomeshouldeverknoweitheruniversitybybecomingamemberofit。Hehadonlyonechild,thepresentsquire,andhewasbroughtupaccordingtohisfather’sword;hewassenttoapettyprovincialschool,wherehesawmuchthathehated,andthenturnedlooseupontheestateasitsheir。Suchabringingupdidnotdohimalltheharmthatmighthavebeenanticipated。Hewasimperfectlyeducated,andignorantonmanypoints;buthewasawareofhisdeficiency,andregretteditintheory。Hewasawkwardandungainlyinsociety,andsokeptoutofitasmuchaspossible;andhewasobstinate,violent—tempered,anddictatorialinhisownimmediatecircle。Ontheotherside,hewasgenerous,andtrueassteel;theverysoulofhonourinfact。

  Hehadsomuchnaturalshrewdness,thathisconversationwasalwaysworthlisteningto,althoughhewasapttostartbyassumingentirelyfalsepremisses,whichheconsideredasincontrovertibleasiftheyhadbeenmathematicallyproved;but,giventhecorrectnessofhispremisses,nobodycouldbringmorenaturalwitandsensetobearupontheargumentsbaseduponthem。HehadmarriedadelicatefineLondonlady;itwasoneofthoseperplexingmarriagesofwhichonecannotunderstandthereasons。Yettheywereveryhappy,thoughpossiblyMrsHamleywouldnothavesunkintotheconditionofachronicinvalid,ifherhusbandhadcaredalittlemoreforhervarioustastes,orallowedherthecompanionshipofthosewhodid。AfterhismarriagehewaswonttosayhehadgotallthatwasworthhavingoutofthatcrowdofhousestheycalledLondon。Itwasacomplimenttohiswifewhichherepeateduntiltheyearofherdeath;itcharmedheratfirst,itpleasedheruptothelasttimeofherhearingit;but,forallthat,sheusedsometimestowishthathewouldrecognizethefactthattheremightstillbesomethingworthhearingandseeinginthegreatcity。Butheneverwentthereagain,andthoughhedidnotprohibithergoing,yetheshowedsolittlesympathywithherwhenshecamebackfullofwhatshehaddoneonhervisitthatsheceasedcaringtogo。Notbutwhathewaskindandwillingingivinghisconsent,andinfurnishingheramplywithmoney。’There,there,mylittlewoman,takethat!Dressyourselfupasfineasanyon’em,andbuywhatyoulike,forthecreditofHamleyofHamley;andgototheparkandtheplay,andshowoffwiththebeston’em。Ishallbegladtoseetheebackagain,Iknow;buthavethyflingwhilethouartaboutit。’Thenwhenshecamebackitwas,’Well,well,ithaspleasedthee,Isuppose,sothat’sallright。Buttheverytalkingaboutittiresme,Iknow,andIcan’tthinkhowyouhavestooditall。Comeoutandseehowprettytheflowersarelookinginthesouthgarden。I’vemadethemsowalltheseedsyoulike;andIwentovertoHollingfordnurserytobuythecuttingsoftheplantsyouadmiredlastyear。AbreathoffreshairwillclearmybrainafterlisteningtoallthistalkaboutthewhirlofLondon,whichisliketohaveturnedmegiddy。’MrsHamleywasagreatreader,andhadconsiderableliterarytaste。Shewasgentleandsentimental;tenderandgood。ShegaveuphervisitstoLondon;shegaveuphersociablepleasureinthecompanyofherfellowsineducationandposition。Herhusband,owingtothedeficienciesofhisearlyyears,dislikedassociatingwiththosetowhomheoughttohavebeenanequal;hewastooproudtominglewithhisinferiors。Helovedhiswifeallthemoredearlyforhersacrificesforhim;but,deprivedofallherstronginterests,shesankintoill—health;nothingdefinite;onlysheneverwaswell。Perhapsifshehadhadadaughteritwouldhavebeenbetterforher;buthertwochildrenwereboys,andtheirfather,anxioustogivethemtheadvantagesofwhichhehimselfhadsufferedthedeprivation,senttheladsveryearlytoapreparatoryschool。TheyweretogoontoRugbyandCambridge;theideaofOxfordwashereditarilydistastefulintheHamleyfamily。Osborne,theeldest—socalledafterhismother’smaidenname—wasfulloftastes,andhadsometalent。Hisappearancehadallthegraceandrefinementofhismother’s。Hewassweet—temperedandaffectionate,almostasdemonstrativeasagirl。Hedidwellatschool,carryingawaymanyprizes;andwas,inaword,theprideanddelightofbothfatherandmother;theconfidentialfriendofthelatter,indefaultofanyother。

  RogerwastwoyearsyoungerthanOsborne;clumsyandheavilybuilt,likehisfather;hisfacewassquare,andtheexpressiongrave,andratherimmobile。

  Hewasgood,butdull,hisschoolmasterssaid。Hewonnoprizes,butbroughthomeafavourablereportofhisconduct。Whenhecaressedhismother,sheusedlaughinglytoalludetothefableofthelap—dogandthedonkey;sothereafterheleftoffallpersonaldemonstrationofaffection。ItwasagreatquestionastowhetherhewastofollowhisbrothertocollegeafterheleftRugby。MrsHamleythoughtitwouldberatherathrowingawayofmoney,ashewassolittlelikelytodistinguishhimselfinintellectualpursuits;anythingpractical—suchasacivilengineer—wouldbemorethelineoflifeforhim。Shethoughtthatitwouldbetoomortifyingforhimtogotothesamecollegeanduniversityashisbrother,whowassuretodistinguishhimself—and,toberepeatedlyplucked,tocomeawaywooden—spoonatlast。Buthisfatherpersevereddoggedly,aswashiswont,inhisintentionofgivingbothhissonsthesameeducation;theyshouldbothhavetheadvantagesofwhichhehadbeendeprived。IfRogerdidnotdowellatCambridgeitwouldbehisownfault。Ifhisfatherdidnotsendhimthither,somedayorotherhemightberegrettingtheomission,asSquireRogerhaddonehimselfformanyayear。SoRogerfollowedhisbrotherOsbornetoTrinity,’

  andMrsHamleywasagainleftalone,aftertheyearofindecisionastoRoger’sdestination,whichhadbeenbroughtonbyherurgency。Shehadnotbeenableformanyyearstowalkbeyondhergarden;thegreaterpartofherlifewasspentonasofa,wheeledtothewindowinsummer,tothefiresideinwinter。Theroomwhichsheinhabitedwaslargeandpleasant;

  fourtallwindowslookedoutuponalawndottedoverwithflower—beds,andmeltingawayintoasmallwood,inthecentreofwhichtherewasapond,filledwithwater—lilies。AboutthisunseenpondinthedeepshadeMrsHamleyhadwrittenmanyaprettyfour—versedpoemsinceshelayonhersofa,alternatelyreadingandcomposingpoetry。Shehadasmalltablebyhersideonwhichtherewerethenewestworksofpoetryandfiction;

  apencilandblotting—book,withloosesheetsofblankpaper;avaseofflowersalwaysofherhusband’sgathering;winterandsummer,shehadasweetfreshnosegayeveryday。Hermaidbroughtheradraughtofmedicineeverythreehours,withaglassofclearwaterandabiscuit;herhusbandcametoherasoftenashislovefortheopenairandhislaboursout—of—doorspermitted;buttheeventofherday,whenherboyswereabsent,wasMrGibson’sfrequentprofessionalvisits。Heknewtherewasrealsecretharmgoingonallthistimethatpeoplespokeofherasamerelyfancifulinvalid;andthatoneortwoaccusedhimofhumouringherfancies。Butheonlysmiledatsuchaccusations。Hefeltthathisvisitswerearealpleasureandlighteningofhergrowingandindescribablediscomfort;heknewthatSquireHamleywouldhavebeenonlytoogladifhehadcomeeveryday;andhewasconsciousthatbycarefulwatchingofhersymptomshemightmitigateherbodilypain。Besidesallthesereasons,hetookgreatpleasureinthesquire’ssociety。MrGibsonenjoyedtheother’sunreasonableness;hisquaintness;hisstrongconservatisminreligion,politics,andmorals。MrsHamleytriedsometimestoapologizefor,ortosoftenaway,opinionswhichshefanciedwereoffensivetothedoctor,orcontradictionswhichshethoughttooabrupt;butatsuchtimesherhusbandwouldlayhisgreathandalmostcaressinglyonMrGibson’sshoulder,andsoothehiswife’sanxiety,bysaying,’Letusalone,littlewoman。Weunderstandeachother,don’twe,doctor?Why,blessyourlife,hegivesmebetterthanhegetsmanyatime;only,yousee,hesugarsitover,andsaysasharpthing,andpretendsit’sallcivilityandhumility;

  butIcantellwhenhe’sgivingmeapill。’OneofMrsHamley’soften—expressedwisheshadbeen,thatMollymightcomeandpayheravisit。MrGibsonalwaysrefusedthisrequestofhers,thoughhecouldhardlyhavegivenhisreasonsfortheserefusals。Hedidnotwanttolosethecompanionshipofhischild,infact;butheputittohimselfinquiteadifferentway。Hethoughtherlessonsandherregularcourseofemploymentwouldbeinterrupted。ThelifeinMrsHamley’sheatedandscentedroomwouldnotbegoodforthegirl;OsborneandRogerHamleywouldbeathome,andhedidnotwishMollytobethrowntooexclusivelyuponthemforyoungsociety;ortheywouldnotbeathome,anditwouldberatherdullanddepressingforhisgirltobeallthedaylongwithanervousinvalid。ButatlengththedaycamewhenMrGibsonrodeover,andvolunteeredavisitfromMolly;anofferwhichMrsHamleyreceivedwiththe’openarmsofherheart,’assheexpressedit;andofwhichthedurationwasunspecified。

  AndthecauseforthischangeinMrGibson’swisheswasasfollows:—Ithasbeenmentionedthathetookpupils,ratheragainsthisinclination,itistrue;buttheretheywere,aMrWynneandMrCoxe,’theyounggentlemen,’

  astheywerecalledinthehousehold;’MrGibson’syounggentlemen,’astheyweretermedinthetown。MrWynnewastheelder,themoreexperiencedone,whocouldoccasionallytakehismaster’splace,andwhogainedexperiencebyvisitingthepoor,andthe’chroniccases。’MrGibsonusedtotalkoverhispracticewithMrWynne,andtryandelicithisopinionsinthevainhopethat,somedayoranother,MrWynnemightstartanoriginalthought。

  Theyoungmanwascautiousandslow;hewouldneverdoanyharmbyhisrashness,butatthesametimehewouldalwaysbealittlebehindhisday。

  StillMrGibsonrememberedthathehadhadfarworse’younggentlemen’

  todealwith;andwascontentwith,ifnotthankfulfor,suchanelderpupilasMrWynne。MrCoxewasaboyofnineteenorso,withbrilliantredhair,andatolerablyredface,ofbothofwhichhewasveryconsciousandmuchashamed。HewasthesonofanIndianofficer,anoldacquaintanceofMrGibson’s。MajorCoxewasatsomeunpronounceablestationinthePunjaub,atthepresenttime;buttheyearbeforehehadbeeninEngland,andhadrepeatedlyexpressedhisgreatsatisfactionathavingplacedhisonlychildasapupiltohisoldfriend,andhadinfactalmostchargedMrGibsonwiththeguardianshipaswellastheinstructionofhisboy,givinghimmanyinjunctionswhichhethoughtwerespecialinthiscase;butwhichMrGibsonwithatouchofannoyanceassuredthemajorwerealwaysattendedtoineverycase,witheverypupil。Butwhenthepoormajorventuredtobegthathisboymightbeconsideredasoneofthefamily,andthathemightspendhiseveningsinthedrawing—roominsteadofthesurgery,MrGibsonturneduponhimwithadirectrefusal。’Hemustliveliketheothers。Ican’thavethepestleandmortarcarriedintothedrawing—room,andtheplacesmellingofaloes。’’Mustmyboymakepillshimself,then?’askedthemajor,ruefully。’Tobesure。Theyoungestapprenticealwaysdoes。It’snothardwork。He’llhavethecomfortofthinkinghewon’thavetoswallowthemhimself。Andhe’llhavetherunofthepomfretcakes,andtheconserveofhips,andonSundaysheshallhaveatasteoftamarindstorewardhimforhisweeklylabouratpill—making。’MajorCoxewasnotquitesurewhetherMrGibsonwasnotlaughingathiminhissleeve;butthingsweresofararranged,andtherealadvantagesweresogreatthathethoughtitwasbesttotakenonotice,buteventosubmittotheindignityofpill—making。HewasconsoledforalltheserubsbyMrGibson’smanneratlastwhenthesuprememomentoffinalpartingarrived。Thedoctordidnotsaymuch;buttherewassomethingofrealsympathyinhismannerthatspokestraighttothefather’sheart,andanimplied’youhavetrustedmewithyourboy,andIhaveacceptedthetrustinfull,’

  ineachofthelastfewwords。MrGibsonknewhisbusinessandhumannaturetoowelltodistinguishyoungCoxebyanyovertmarksoffavouritism;buthecouldnothelpshowingtheladoccasionallythatheregardedhimwithespecialinterestasthesonofafriend。Besidesthisclaimuponhisregard,therewassomethingabouttheyoungmanhimselfthatpleasedMrGibson。Hewasrashandimpulsive,apttospeak,hittingthenailontheheadsometimeswithunconsciouscleverness,atothertimesmakinggrossandstartlingblunders。MrGibsonusedtotellhimthathismottowouldalwaysbe’killorcure,’andtothisMrCoxeoncemadeanswerthathethoughtitwasthebestmottoadoctorcouldhave;

  forifhecouldnotcurethepatient,itwassurelybesttogethimoutofhismiseryquietly,andatonce。MrWynnelookedupinsurprise,andobservedthatheshouldbeafraidthatsuchputtingoutofmiserymightbelookeduponashomicidebysomepeople。MrGibsonsaidinadrytone,thatforhispartheshouldnotmindtheimputationofhomicide,butthatitwouldnotdotomakeawaywithprofitablepatientsinsospeedyamanner;

  andthathethoughtthataslongastheywerewillingandabletopaytwo—and—sixpenceforthedoctor’svisit,itwashisdutytokeepthemalive;ofcourse,whentheybecamepaupersthecasewasdifferent。MrWynneponderedoverthisspeech;MrCoxeonlylaughed。AtlastMrWynnesaid,—’Butyougoeverymorning,sir,beforebreakfasttoseeoldNancyGrant,andyou’veorderedherthismedicine,sir,whichisaboutthemostcostlyinCorbyn’sbill?’’Haveyounotfoundouthowdifficultitisformentoliveuptotheirprecepts?You’veagreatdealtolearnyet,MrWynne!’saidMrGibson,leavingthesurgeryashespoke。’Inevercanmakethegovernorout,’saidMrWynne,inatoneofutterdespair。’Whatareyoulaughingat,Coxey?’’Oh!I’mthinkinghowblestyouareinhavingparentswhohaveinstilledmoralprinciplesintoyouryouthfulbosom。You’dgoandbepoisoningallthepaupersoff,ifyouhadn’tbeentoldthatmurderwasacrimebyyourmother;you’dbethinkingyouweredoingasyouwerebid,andquoteoldGibson’swordswhenyoucametobetried。\"Please,mylordjudge,theywerenotabletopayformyvisits,andsoIfollowedtherulesoftheprofessionastaughtmebyMrGibson,thegreatsurgeonatHollingford,andpoisonedthepaupers。\"’’Ican’tbearthatscoffingwayofhis。’’AndIlikeit。Ifitwasn’tforthegovernor’sfun,andthetamarinds,andsomethingelsethatIknowof,IwouldrunofftoIndia。Ihatestiflingrooms,andsickpeople,andthesmellofdrugs,andthestinkofpillsonmyhands;—faugh!’

  chapter05CHAPTERVCALF—LOVEOneday,forsomereasonorother,MrGibsoncamehomeunexpectedly。Hewascrossingthehall,havingcomeinbythegarden—door—thegardencommunicatedwiththestable—yard,wherehehadlefthishorse—whenthekitchendooropened,andthegirlwhowasunderlingintheestablishment,camequicklyintothehallwithanoteinherhand,andmadeasifshewastakingitupstairs;butonseeinghermastershegavealittlestart,andturnedbackasiftohideherselfinthekitchen。Ifshehadnotmadethismovement,soconsciousofguilt,MrGibson,whowasanythingbutsuspicious,wouldneverhavetakenanynoticeofher。Asitwas,hesteppedquicklyforwards,openedthekitchendoor,andcalledout,’Bethia’sosharplythatshecouldnotdelaycomingforwards。’Givemethatnote,’hesaid。Shehesitatedalittle。’It’sforMissMolly,’shestammeredout。’Giveittome!’herepeatedmorequietlythanbefore。Shelookedasifshewouldcry;butstillshekeptthenotetightheldbehindherback。’HesaidasIwastogiveitintoherownhands;andIpromisedasIwould,faithful。’’Cook,goandfindMissMolly。Tellhertocomehereatonce。’HefixedBethiawithhiseyes。Itwasofnousetryingtoescape:shemighthavethrownitintothefire,butshehadnotpresenceofmindenough。

点击下载App,搜索"WIVES AND DAUGHTERS",免费读到尾