第 75 节
作者:这就是结局      更新:2022-08-21 16:40      字数:9322
  this。  It takes away from much of my comfort in sending you into the
  world; and for higher thingshow can I believe you really impressed
  and reverent; if the next minute〃
  〃I'm not fit!  I'm not fit!〃 sobbed Harry; hiding his face。
  〃Indeed; I hardly know whether it is not so;〃 said the doctor。  〃You
  are under the usual age; and; though I know you wish to be a good
  boy; yet I don't feel sure that these wild spirits do not carry away
  everything serious; and whether it is right to bring one so
  thoughtless to〃
  〃No; no;〃 and Harry cried bitterly; and his father was deeply
  grieved; but no more could then be said; and they parted for the
  nightDr。 May saying; as he went away; 〃You understand; that it is
  not as punishment for your trick; if I do not take you to Mr。 Ramsden
  for a ticket; but that I cannot be certain whether it is right to
  bring you to such solemn privileges while you do not seem to me to
  retain steadily any grave or deep feelings。  Perhaps your mother
  would have better helped you。〃
  And Dr。 May went away to mourn over what he viewed as far greater
  sins than those of his son。
  Anger had; indeed; given place to sorrow; and all were grave the next
  morning; as if each had something to be forgiven。
  Margaret; especially; felt guilty of the fears which; perhaps; had
  not been sufficiently combated in her days of health; and now were
  beyond control; and had occasioned so much pain。  Ethel grieved over
  the words she had yesterday spoken in haste of her father and sister;
  Mary knew herself to have been an accomplice in the joke; and Norman
  blamed himself for not having taken the trouble to perceive that
  Harry had not been talking rhodomontade; when he had communicated
  〃his capital scheme〃 the previous morning。
  The decision as to the Confirmation was a great grief to all。  Flora
  consoled herself by observing that; as he was so young; no one need
  know it; nor miss him; and Ethel; with a trembling; almost sobbing
  voice; enumerated all Harry's excellences; his perfect truth; his
  kindness; his generosity; his flashes of intense feelingdeclared
  that nobody might be confirmed if he were not; and begged and
  entreated that Mr。 Wilmot might be written to; and consulted。  She
  would almost have done so herself; if Richard had not shown her it
  would be undutiful。
  Harry himself was really subdued。  He made no question as to the
  propriety of the decision; but rather felt his own unworthiness; and
  was completely humbled and downcast。  When a note came from Mrs。
  Anderson; saying that she was convinced that it could not have been
  Dr。 May's wish that she should be exposed to the indignity of a
  practical joke; and that a young lady of the highest family should
  have been insulted; no one had spirits to laugh at the terms; and
  when Dr。 May said; 〃What is to be done?〃 Harry turned crimson; and
  was evidently trying to utter something。
  〃I see nothing for it but for him to ask their pardon;〃 said Dr。 May;
  and a sound was heard; not very articulate; but expressing full
  assent。
  〃That is right;〃 said the doctor。  〃I'll come with you。〃
  〃Oh; thank you!〃 cried Harry; looking up。
  They set off at once。  Mrs。 Anderson was neither an unpleasing nor
  unkind personher chief defect being a blind admiration of her sons
  and daughters; which gave her; in speaking of them; a tone of
  pretension that she would never have shown on her own account。
  Her displeasure was pacified in a moment by the sight of the confused
  contrition of the culprit; coupled with his father's frank and kindly
  tone of avowal; that it had been a foolish improper frolic; and that
  he had been much displeased with him for it。
  〃Say no morepray; say no more; Dr。 May。  We all know how to
  overlook a sailor's frolic; and; I am sure; Master Harry's present
  behaviour; but you'll take a bit of luncheon;〃 and; as something was
  said of going home to the early dinner; 〃I am sure you will wait one
  minute。  Master Harry must have a piece of my cake; and allow me to
  drink to his success。〃
  Poor Mr。 May! to be called Master Harry; and treated to sweet cake!
  But he saw his father thought he ought to endure; and he even said;
  〃Thank you。〃
  The cake stuck in his throat; however; when Mrs。 Anderson and her
  daughters opened their full course of praise on their dear Harvey and
  dearest Edward; telling all the flattering things Dr。 Hoxton had said
  of the order into which Harvey had brought the school; and insisting
  on Dr。 May's reading the copy of the testimonial that he had carried
  to Oxford。  〃I knew you would be kind enough to rejoice;〃 said Mrs。
  Anderson; 〃and that you would have nono feeling about Mr。 Norman;
  for; of course; at his age; a little matter is nothing; and it must
  be better for the dear boy himself to be a little while under a
  friend like Harvey; than to have authority while so young。〃
  〃I believe it has done him no harm;〃 was all that the doctor could
  bring himself to say; and thinking that he and his son had endured
  quite enough; he took his leave as soon as Harry had convulsively
  bolted the last mouthful。
  Not a word was spoken all the way home。  Harry's own trouble had
  overpowered even this subject of resentment。  On Sunday; the notice
  of the Confirmation was read。  It was to take place on the following
  Thursday; and all those who had already given in their names were to
  come to Mr。 Ramsden to apply for their tickets。  While this was read;
  large tear…drops were silently falling on poor Harry's book。
  Ethel and Norman walked together in the twilight; in deep lamentation
  over their brother's deprivation; which seemed especially to humble
  them; 〃for;〃 said Norman; 〃I am sure no one can be more resolved on
  doing right than July; and he has got through school better than I
  did。〃
  〃Yes;〃 said Ethel; 〃if we don't get into his sort of scrape; it is
  only that we are older; not better。  I am sure mine are worse; my
  letting Aubrey be nearly burnedmy neglects。〃
  〃Papa must be doing right;〃 said Norman; 〃but for July to be turned
  back when we are taken; makes me think of man judging only by outward
  appearance。〃
  〃A few outrageous…looking acts of giddiness that are so much grieved
  over; may not be half so bad as the hundreds of wandering thoughts
  that one forgets; because no one else can see them!〃 said Ethel。
  Meanwhile; Harry and Mary were sitting twisted together into a sort
  of bundle; on the same footstool; by Margaret's sofa。  Harry had
  begged of her to hear him say the Catechism once more; and Mary had
  joined with him in the repetition。  There was to be only one more
  Sunday at home。  〃And that!〃 he said; and sighed。
  Margaret knew what he meant; for the Feast was to be spread for those
  newly admitted to share it。  She only said a caressing word of
  affection。
  〃I wonder when I shall have another chance;〃 said Harry。  〃If we
  should get to Australia; or New Zealandbut then; perhaps; there
  would be no Confirmation going on; and I might be worse by that
  time。〃
  〃Oh; you must not let that be!〃
  〃Why; you see; if I can't be good here; with all this going on; what
  shall I do among those fellows; away from all?〃
  〃You will have one friend!〃
  〃Mr。 Ernescliffe!  You are always thinking of him; Margaret; but
  perhaps he may not go; and if he should; a lieutenant cannot do much
  for a midshipman。  No; I thought; when I was reading with my father;
  that somehow it might help me to do what it called putting away
  childish thingsdon't you know?  I might be able to be stronger and
  steadier; somehow。  And then; ififyou know; if I did tumble
  overboard; or anything of that sort; there is that about thewhat
  they will go to next Sunday; being necessary to salvation。〃
  Harry laid down his head and cried; Margaret could not speak for
  tears; and Mary was incoherently protesting against any notion of his
  falling overboard。
  〃It is generally necessary; Harry;〃 Margaret said at last〃not in
  impossible cases。〃
  〃Yes if it had been impossible; but it was not; if I had not been a
  mad goose all this time; but when a bit of fun gets hold of me; I
  can't think。  And if I am too bad for that; I am too bad forfor
  and I shall never see mamma again!  Margaret; it almost makes me af
  afraid to sail。〃
  〃Harry; don't; don't talk so!〃 sobbed Mary。  〃Oh; do come to papa;
  and let us beg and pray。  Take hold of my hand; and Margaret will beg
  too; and when he sees how sorry you are; I am sure he will forgive;
  and let you be confirmed。〃  She would have dragged him after her。
  〃No; Mary;〃 said Harry; resisting her。 〃It is not that he does not
  forgive。 You don't understand。  It is what is right。  And he cannot
  help it; or make it right for me; if I am such a horrid wretch that I
  can't keep grave thoughts in my head。  I might do it again after
  that; just the same。〃
  〃You have been grave enough of late;〃 said Mary。
  〃This was enough to make me so;〃 said Harry; 〃but even at church;
  since I came home; I have behaved ill!  I kicked Tom; to make him
  look at old Levitt asleep; and then I went on; because he did not
  like it。  I know I am too idle。〃
  On the Tuesday; Dr。 May had said he would take Norman and Etheldred
  to Mr。 Ramsden。  Ethel was gravely putting on her walking dress; when
  she heard