第 43 节
作者:这就是结局      更新:2022-08-21 16:39      字数:9322
  a lucky chance;〃 he said; 〃that they brought Norman in。  It was
  exactly what I wanted to rouse and interest him; and he took it all
  in so well; that I am sure they were pleased with him。  I thought he
  looked a very lanky specimen of too much leg and arm when I called
  him in; but he has such good manners; and is so ready and
  understanding; that they could not help liking him。  It was fortunate
  I had him instead of RichardRitchie is a very good fellow;
  certainly; but he had rather look at a steam…engine; any day; than at
  Raphael himself。〃
  Norman had his turn by…and…by。  He came up after tea; reporting that
  papa was fast asleep in his chair; and the others would go on about
  Cocksmoor till midnight; if they were let alone; and made up for his
  previous yielding to Ethel; by giving; with much animation; and some
  excitement; a glowing description of the Grange; so graphic; that
  Margaret said she could almost fancy she had been there。
  〃Oh; Margaret; I wonder if you ever will!  I would give something for
  you to see the beautiful conservatory。  It is a real bower for a
  maiden of romance; with its rich green fragrance in the midst of
  winter。  It is like a picture in a dream。  One could imagine it a
  fairy land; where no care; or grief; or weariness could come; all
  choice beauty and sweetness waiting on the creature within。  I can
  hardly believe that it is a real place; and that I have seen it。〃
  〃Though you have brought these pretty tokens that your fairy is as
  good as she is fair!〃 said Margaret; smiling。
  CHAPTER XVI。
  EVANS。   Peace your tattlings。 What is fair; William?
  WILLIAM。 PULCHER。
  QUICKLY。 Poulcats! there are fairer things than poulcats sure!
  EVANS。   I pray you have your remembrance; child; accusative
  HING HANG HOG。
  QUICKLY。 HANG HOG is Latin for bacon; I warrant you。
  SHAKESPEARE。
  In a large family it must often happen; that since every member of it
  cannot ride the same hobby; nor at the same time; their several
  steeds must sometimes run counter to each other; and so Ethel found
  it; one morning when Miss Winter; having a bad cold; had given her an
  unwonted holiday。
  Mr。 Wilmot had sent a large parcel of books for her to choose from
  for Cocksmoor; but this she could not well do without consultation。
  The multitude bewildered her; she was afraid of taking too many or
  too few; and the being brought to these practical details made her
  sensible that though her schemes were very grand and full for future
  doings; they passed very lightly over the intermediate ground。  The
  Paulo post fulurum was a period much more developed in her
  imagination than the future; that the present was flowing into。
  Where was her coadjutor; Richard?  Writing notes for papa; and not to
  be disturbed。  She had better have waited tranquilly; but this would
  not suit her impatience; and she ran up to Margaret's room。  There
  she found a great display of ivy leaves; which Norman; who had been
  turning half the shops in the town upside down in search of
  materials; was instructing her to imitate in leather…worka regular
  mania with him; and apparently the same with Margaret。
  In came Ethel。  〃Oh; Margaret; will you look at these 'First Truths?'
  Do you think they would be easy enough?  Shall I take some of the
  Parables and Miracles at once; or content myself with the book about
  'Jane Sparks?'〃
  〃There's some very easy reading in 'Jane Sparks'; isn't there?  I
  would not make the little books from the New Testament too common。〃
  〃Take care; that leaf has five points;〃 said Norman。
  〃Shall I bring you up 'Jane Sparks' to see?  Because then you can
  judge;〃 said Ethel。
  〃There; Norman; is that right?what a beauty!  I should like to look
  over them by…and…by; dear Ethel; very much。〃
  Ethel gazed and went away; more put out than was usual with her。
  〃When Margaret has a new kind of fancy work;〃 she thought; 〃she cares
  for nothing else! as if my poor children did not signify more than
  trumpery leather leaves!〃 She next met Flora。
  〃Oh; Flora; see here; what a famous parcel of books Mr。 Wilmot has
  sent us to choose from。〃
  〃All those!〃 said Flora; turning them over as they lay heaped on the
  drawing…room sofa; 〃what a confusion!〃
  〃See; such a parcel of reading books。  I want to know what you think
  of setting them up with 'Jane Sparks'; as it is week…day teaching。〃
  〃You will be very tired of hearing those spelled over for ever; they
  have some nicer books at the national school。〃
  〃What is the name of them?  Do you see any of them here?〃
  〃No; I don't think I do; but I can't wait to look now。  I must write
  some letters。  You had better put them together a little。  If you
  were to sort them; you would know what is there。  Now; what a mess
  they are in。〃
  Ethel could not deny it; and began to deal them out in piles; looking
  somewhat more fitting; but still felt neglected and aggrieved; at no
  one being at leisure but Harry; who was not likely to be of any use
  to her。
  Presently she heard the study door open; and hoped; but though it was
  Richard who entered the room; he was followed by Tom; and each held
  various books that boded little good to her。  Miss Winter had; much
  to her own satisfaction; been relieved from the charge of Tom; whose
  lessons Richard had taken upon himself; and thus Ethel had heard so
  little about them for a long time past; that even in her vexation and
  desire to have them over; she listened with interest; desirous to
  judge what sort of place Tom might be likely to take in school。
  She did not perceive that this made Richard nervous and uneasy。  He
  had a great dislike to spectators of Latin lessons; he never had
  forgotten an unlucky occasion; some years back; when his father was
  examining him in the Georgics; and he; dull by nature; and duller by
  confusion and timidity; had gone on rendering word for wordenim
  for; seges a crop; lini of mud; urit burns; campum the field; avenae
  a crop of pipe; urit burns it; when Norman and Ethel had first warned
  him of the beauty of his translation by an explosion of laughing;
  when his father had shut the book with a bounce; shaken his head in
  utter despair; and told him to give up all thoughts of doing
  anythingand when Margaret had cried with vexation。  Since that
  time; he had never been happy when any one was in earshot of a
  lesson; but to…day he had no escapeHarry lay on the rug reading;
  and Ethel sat forlorn over her books on the sofa。  Tom; however; was
  bright enough; declined his Greek nouns irreproachably; and construed
  his Latin so well; that Ethel could not help putting in a word or two
  of commendation; and auguring the third form。  〃Do let him off the
  parsing; Ritchie;〃 said she coaxingly〃he has said it so well; and I
  want you so much。〃
  〃I am afraid I must not;〃 said Richard; who; to her surprise; did not
  look pleased or satisfied with the prosperous translation; 〃but come;
  Tom; you shan't have many words; if you really know them。〃
  Tom twisted and looked rather cross; but when asked to parse the word
  viribus; answered readily and correctly。
  〃Very well; only two moreaffuit?〃
  〃Third person singular; praeter perfect tense of the verb affo;
  affis; affui; affere; gabbled off Tom with such confidence; that
  though Ethel gave an indignant jump; Richard was almost startled into
  letting it pass; and disbelieving himself。  He remonstrated in a
  somewhat hesitating voice。  〃Did you find that in the dictionary?〃
  said he; 〃I thought affui came from adsum。〃
  〃Oh; to be sure; stupid fool of a word; so it does!〃 said Tom
  hastily。  〃I had forgotadsum; ades; affui; adesse。〃
  Richard said no more; but proposed the word oppositus。
  〃Adjective。〃
  Ethel was surprised; for she remembered that it was; in this passage;
  part of a passive verb; which Tom had construed correctly; 〃it was
  objected;〃 and she had thought this very creditable to him; whereas
  he now evidently took it for opposite; however; on Richard's reading
  the line; he corrected himself and called it a participle; but did
  not commit himself further; till asked for its derivation。
  〃From oppositor。〃
  〃Hallo!〃 cried Harry; who hitherto had been abstracted in his book;
  but now turned; raised himself on his elbow; and; at the blunder;
  shook his thick yellow locks; and showed his teeth like a young lion。
  〃No; now; Tom; pay attention;〃 said Richard resignedly。  〃If you
  found out its meaning; you must have seen its derivation。〃
  〃Oppositus;〃 said Tom; twisting his fingers; and gazing first at
  Ethel; then at Harry; in hopes of being prompted; then at the ceiling
  and floor; the while he drawled out the word with a whine; 〃why;
  oppositus from op…posor。〃
  〃A poser! ain't it?〃 said Harry。
  〃Don't; Harry; you distract him;〃 said Richard。  〃Come; Tom; say at
  once whether you know it or notit is of no use to invent。〃
  〃From op…〃 and a mumble。
  〃What?  I don't hearop〃
  Tom again looked for help to Harry; who made a mischievous movement
  of his lips; as if prompting; and; deceived by it; he said boldly;
  〃From op…possum。〃
  〃That's right! let us hear him decline it!〃 cried Harry; in an
  ecstasy。 〃Oppossum; opottis; opposse; or oh…pottery!〃
  〃Harry;〃 sai