第 8 节
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随便看看 更新:2022-07-12 16:23 字数:9322
and as he laid it down。 Mr。 Goodchild wishes to add that he considers it
a very good likeness。
It came out in the course of a little conversation; that Doctor Speddie
was acquainted with some friends of Thomas Idle's; and had; when a
young man; passed some years in Thomas Idle's birthplace on the other
side of England。 Certain idle labours; the fruit of Mr。 Goodchild's
apprenticeship; also happened to be well known to him。 The lazy travellers
were thus placed on a more intimate footing with the Doctor than the
casual circumstances of the meeting would of themselves have established;
and when Doctor Speddie rose to go home; remarking that he would send
his assistant with the lotion; Francis Goodchild said that was unnecessary;
for; by the Doctor's leave; he would accompany him; and bring it back。
(Having done nothing to fatigue himself for a full quarter of an hour;
Francis began to fear that he was not in a state of idleness。)
Doctor Speddie politely assented to the proposition of Francis
Goodchild; 'as it would give him the pleasure of enjoying a few more
minutes of Mr。 Goodchild's society than he could otherwise have hoped
for;' and they went out together into the village street。 The rain had
nearly ceased; the clouds had broken before a cool wind from the north…
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THE LAZY TOUR OF TWO IDLE APPRENTICES
east; and stars were shining from the peaceful heights beyond them。
Doctor Speddie's house was the last house in the place。 Beyond it;
lay the moor; all dark and lonesome。 The wind moaned in a low; dull;
shivering manner round the little garden; like a houseless creature that
knew the winter was coming。 It was exceedingly wild and solitary。
'Roses;' said the Doctor; when Goodchild touched some wet leaves
overhanging the stone porch; 'but they get cut to pieces。'
The Doctor opened the door with a key he carried; and led the way
into a low but pretty ample hall with rooms on either side。 The door of
one of these stood open; and the Doctor entered it; with a word of
welcome to his guest。 It; too; was a low room; half surgery and half
parlour; with shelves of books and bottles against the walls; which were of
a very dark hue。 There was a fire in the grate; the night being damp and
chill。 Leaning against the chimney…piece looking down into it; stood the
Doctor's Assistant。
A man of a most remarkable appearance。 Much older than Mr。
Goodchild had expected; for he was at least two…and…fifty; but; that was
nothing。 What was startling in him was his remarkable paleness。 His
large black eyes; his sunken cheeks; his long and heavy iron…grey hair; his
wasted hands; and even the attenuation of his figure; were at first forgotten
in his extraordinary pallor。 There was no vestige of colour in the man。
When he turned his face; Francis Goodchild started as if a stone figure had
looked round at him。
'Mr。 Lorn;' said the Doctor。 'Mr。 Goodchild。'
The Assistant; in a distraught way … as if he had forgotten something …
as if he had forgotten everything; even to his own name and himself …
acknowledged the visitor's presence; and stepped further back into the
shadow of the wall behind him。 But; he was so pale that his face stood
out in relief again the dark wall; and really could not be hidden so。
'Mr。 Goodchild's friend has met with accident; Lorn;' said Doctor
Speddie。 'We want the lotion for a bad sprain。'
A pause。
'My dear fellow; you are more than usually absent to…night。 The
lotion for a bad sprain。'
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THE LAZY TOUR OF TWO IDLE APPRENTICES
'Ah! yes! Directly。'
He was evidently relieved to turn away; and to take his white face and
his wild eyes to a table in a recess among the bottles。 But; though he
stood there; compounding the lotion with his back towards them;
Goodchild could not; for many moments; withdraw his gaze from the man。
When he at length did so; he found the Doctor observing him; with some
trouble in his face。 'He is absent;' explained the Doctor; in a low voice。
'Always absent。 Very absent。'
'Is he ill?'
'No; not ill。'
'Unhappy?'
'I have my suspicions that he was;' assented the Doctor; 'once。'
Francis Goodchild could not but observe that the Doctor accompanied
these words with a benignant and protecting glance at their subject; in
which there was much of the expression with which an attached father
might have looked at a heavily afflicted son。 Yet; that they were not
father and son must have been plain to most eyes。 The Assistant; on the
other hand; turning presently to ask the Doctor some question; looked at
him with a wan smile as if he were his whole reliance and sustainment in
life。
It was in vain for the Doctor in his easy…chair; to try to lead the mind
of Mr。 Goodchild in the opposite easy…chair; away from what was before
him。 Let Mr。 Goodchild do what he would to follow the Doctor; his eyes
and thoughts reverted to the Assistant。 The Doctor soon perceived it; and;
after falling silent; and musing in a little perplexity; said:
'Lorn!'
'My dear Doctor。'
'Would you go to the Inn; and apply that lotion? You will show the
best way of applying it; far better than Mr。 Goodchild can。'
'With pleasure。'
The Assistant took his hat; and passed like a shadow to the door。
'Lorn!' said the Doctor; calling after him。
He returned。
'Mr。 Goodchild will keep me company till you come home。 Don't
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THE LAZY TOUR OF TWO IDLE APPRENTICES
hurry。 Excuse my calling you back。'
'It is not;' said the Assistant; with his former smile; 'the first time you
have called me back; dear Doctor。' With those words he went away。
'Mr。 Goodchild;' said Doctor Speddie; in a low voice; and with his
former troubled expression of face; 'I have seen that your attention has
been concentrated on my friend。'
'He fascinates me。 I must apologise to you; but he has quite
bewildered and mastered me。'
'I find that a lonely existence and a long secret;' said the Doctor;
drawing his chair a little nearer to Mr。 Goodchild's; 'become in the course
of time very heavy。 I will tell you something。 You may make what use
you will of it; under fictitious names。 I know I may trust you。 I am the
more inclined to confidence to…night; through having been unexpectedly
led back; by the current of our conversation at the Inn; to scenes in my
early life。 Will you please to draw a little nearer?'
Mr。 Goodchild drew a little nearer; and the Doctor went on thus:
speaking; for the most part; in so cautious a voice; that the wind; though it
was far from high; occasionally got the better of him。
When this present nineteenth century was younger by a good many
years than it is now; a certain friend of mine; named Arthur Holliday;
happened to arrive in the town of Doncaster; exactly in the middle of a
race…week; or; in other words; in the middle of the month of September。
He was one of those reckless; rattle…pated; open…hearted; and open…
mouthed young gentlemen; who possess the gift of familiarity in its
highest perfection; and who scramble carelessly along the journey of life
making friends; as the phrase is; wherever they go。 His father was a rich
manufacturer; and had bought landed property enough in one of the
midland counties to mak