第 41 节
作者:这就是结局      更新:2022-08-21 16:39      字数:9322
  name of the little Italian; and was told it was Nipen; because it had
  once stolen a cake; much like the wind…spirit in Feats on the Fiord。
  Its beauty and tricks were duly displayed; and a most beautiful
  Australian parrot was exhibited; Mrs。 Larpent taking full interest in
  the talk; in so lively and gentle a manner; and she and her pretty
  pupil evidently on such sister…like terms; that Norman could hardly
  believe her to be the governess; when he thought of Miss Winter。
  Miss Rivers took up some brown leaves which she was cutting out with
  scissors; and shaping。  〃Our holiday work;〃 said Mrs。 Larpent; in
  answer to the inquiring look of Norman's eyes。  〃Meta has been making
  a drawing for her papa; and is framing it in leather…work。  Have you
  ever seen any?〃
  〃Never!〃 and Norman looked eagerly; asking questions; and watching
  while Miss Rivers cut out her ivy leaf and marked its veins; and
  showed how she copied it from nature。  He thanked her; saying; 〃I
  wanted to learn all about it; for I thought it would be such nice
  work for my eldest sister。〃
  A glance of earnest interest from little Meta's bright eyes at her
  governess; and Mrs。 Larpent; in a kind; soft tone that quite gained
  his heart; asked; 〃Is she the invalid?〃
  〃Yes;〃 said Norman。  〃New fancy work is a great gain to her。〃
  Mrs。 Larpent's sympathetic questions; and Meta's softening eyes;
  gradually drew from him a great deal about Margaret's helpless state;
  and her patience; and capabilities; and how every one came to her
  with all their cares; and Norman; as he spoke; mentally contrasted
  the life; untouched by trouble and care; led by the fair girl before
  him; with that atmosphere of constant petty anxieties round her
  namesake's couch; at years so nearly the same。
  〃How very good she must be;〃 said little Meta; quickly and softly;
  and a tear was sparkling on her eyelashes。
  〃She is indeed;〃 said Norman earnestly。  〃I don't know what papa
  would do but for her。〃
  Mrs。 Larpent asked kind questions whether his father's arm was very
  painful; and the hopes of its cure; and he felt as if she was a great
  friend already。  Thence they came to books。  Norman had not read for
  months past; but it happened that Meta was just now reading
  Woodstock; with which he was of course familiar; and both grew eager
  in discussing that and several others。  Of one; Meta spoke in such
  terms of delight; that Norman thought it had been very stupid of him
  to let it lie on the table for the last fortnight without looking
  into it。
  He was almost sorry to see his father and Mr。 Rivers come in; and
  hear the carriage ordered; but they were not off yet; though the rain
  was now only Scotch mist。  Mr。 Rivers had his most choice little
  pictures still to display; his beautiful early Italian masters;
  finished like illuminations; and over these there was much lingering
  and admiring。  Meta had whispered something to her governess; who
  smiled; and advanced to Norman。  〃Meta wishes to know if your sister
  would like to have a few flowers?〃 said she。
  No sooner said than done; the door into the conservatory was opened;
  and Meta; cutting sprays of beautiful geranium; delicious heliotrope;
  fragrant calycanthus; deep blue tree violet; and exquisite hothouse
  ferns; perfect wonders to Norman; who; at each addition to the
  bouquet; exclaimed by turns; 〃Oh; thank you!〃 and; 〃How she will like
  it!〃
  Her father reached a magnolia blossom from on high; and the quick
  warm grateful emotion trembled in Dr。 May's features and voice; as he
  said; 〃It is very kind in you; you have given my poor girl a great
  treat。  Thank you with all my heart。〃
  Margaret Rivers cast down her eyes; half smiled; and shrank back;
  thinking she had never felt anything like the left…handed grasp; so
  full of warmth and thankfulness。  It gave her confidence to venture
  on the one question on which she was bent。  Her father was in the
  hall; showing Norman his Greek nymph; and lifting her eyes to Dr。
  May's face; then casting them down; she coloured deeper than ever; as
  she said; in a stammering whisper; 〃Oh; pleaseif you would tell me…
  …do you thinkis papa very ill?〃
  Dr。 May answered in his softest; most reassuring tones: 〃You need not
  be alarmed about him; I assure you。  You must keep him from too much
  business;〃 he added; smiling; 〃make him ride with you; and not let
  him tire himself; and I am sure you can be his best doctor。〃
  〃But do you think;〃 said Meta; earnestly looking up〃do you think he
  will be quite well again?〃
  〃You must not expect doctors to be absolute oracles;〃 said he。 〃I
  will tell you what I told himI hardly think his will ever be sound
  health again; but I see no reason why he should not have many years
  of comfort; and there is no cause for you to disquiet yourself on his
  accountyou have only to be careful of him。〃
  Meta tried to say 〃thank you;〃 but not succeeding; looked imploringly
  at her governess; who spoke for her。  〃Thank you; it is a great
  relief to have an opinion; for we were not at all satisfied about Mr。
  Rivers。〃
  A few words more; and Meta was skipping about like a sprite finding a
  basket for the flowersshe had another shake of the hand; another
  grateful smile; and 〃thank you;〃 from the doctor; and then; as the
  carriage disappeared; Mrs。 Larpent exclaimed; 〃What a very nice
  intelligent boy that was。〃
  〃Particularly gentlemanlike;〃 said Mr。 Rivers。 〃Very cleverthe head
  of the school; as his father tells meand so modest and unassuming
  though I see his father is very proud of him。〃
  〃Oh; I am sure they are so fond of each other;〃 said Meta: 〃didn't
  you see his attentive ways to his father at luncheon!  And; papa; I
  am sure you must like Dr。 May; Mr。 Wilmot's doctor; as much as I said
  you would。〃
  〃He is the most superior man I have met with for a long time;〃 said
  Mr。 Rivers。  〃It is a great acquisition to find a man of such taste
  and acquirements in this country neighbourhood; when there is not
  another who can tell a Claude from a Poussin。  I declare; when once
  we began talking; there was no leaving offI have not met a person
  of so much conversation since I left town。  I thought you would like
  to see him; Meta。〃
  〃I hope I shall know the Miss Mays some time or other。〃
  〃That is the prettiest little fairy I ever did see!〃 was Dr。 May's
  remark; as Norman drove from the door。
  〃How good…natured they are!〃 said Norman; 〃I just said something
  about Margaret; and she gave me all these flowers。  How Margaret will
  be delighted!  I wish the girls could see it all!〃
  〃So you got on well with the ladies; did you?〃
  〃They were very kind to me。  It was very pleasant!〃 said Norman; with
  a tone of enjoyment that did his father's heart good。
  〃I was glad you should come in。  Such a curiosity shop is a sight;
  and those pictures were some of them well worth seeing。  That was a
  splendid Titian。〃
  〃That cast of the Pallas of the Parthenonhow beautiful it wasI
  knew it from the picture in Smith's dictionary。  Mr。 Rivers said he
  would show me all his antiques if you would bring me again。〃
  〃I saw he liked your interest in them。  He is a good; kind…hearted
  dilettante sort of old man; he has got all the talk of the literary;
  cultivated society in London; and must find it dullish work here。〃
  〃You liked him; didn't you?〃
  〃He is very pleasant; I found he knew my old friend; Benson; whom I
  had not seen since we were at Cambridge together; and we got on that
  and other matters; London people have an art of conversation not
  learned here; and I don't know how the time slipped away; but you
  must have been tolerably tired of waiting。〃
  〃Not to signify;〃 said Norman。  〃I only began to think he must be
  very ill; I hope there is not much the matter with him。〃
  〃I can't say。  I am afraid there is organic disease; but I think it
  may be kept quiet a good while yet; and he may have a pleasant life
  for some time to come; arranging his prints; and petting his pretty
  daughter。  He has plenty to fall back upon。〃
  〃Do you go there again?〃
  〃Yes; next week。  I am glad of it。  I shall like to have another look
  at that little Madonna of hisit is the sort of picture that does
  one good to carry away in one's eye。  Whay!  Stop。  There's an old
  woman in here。  It is too late for Fordholm; but these cases won't
  wait。〃
  He went into the cottage; and soon returned; saying; 〃Fine new
  blankets; and a great kettle of soup; and such praises of the ladies
  at the Grange!〃  And; at the next house; it was the same story。
  〃Well; 'tis no mockery now to tell the poor creatures they want
  nourishing food。  Slices of meat and bottles of port wine rain down
  on Abbotstoke。〃
  A far more talkative journey than usual ensued; the discussion of the
  paintings and antiques was almost equally delightful to the father
  and son; and lasted till; about a mile from Stoneborough; they
  descried three figures in the twilight。
  〃Ha!  How are you; Wilmot?  So you braved the rain; Ethel。  Jump in;〃
  called the doctor; as Norman drew up。
  〃I shall crowd youI shall hurt your arm; papa; thank you。〃
  〃No; you won'tjump inthere's room for three thread…papers in one
  gig。  Why; Wilmot; your brother has a very jewel of a squire!  How
  did you fare?〃
  〃Very well