第 116 节
作者:这就是结局      更新:2022-08-21 16:40      字数:9322
  〃Have you seen it?〃 she asked; and she was amused by the quick
  negative movement of his head。
  〃I read my friend's poems?  But our lungs are prepared!  Will you
  give me my cueit is of no use to ask him when we are to deafen you。
  One generally knows the crack passagessomething beginning with 'Oh;
  woman!' but it is well to be in readinessif you would only forewarn
  me of the telling hits?〃
  〃If they cannot tell themselves;〃 said Ethel; smiling; 〃I don't think
  they deserve the name。〃
  〃Perhaps you think what does tell on the undergraduates;
  collectively; is not always what ought to tell on them。〃
  〃I don't know。  I dare say the same would not be a favourite with
  them and with me。〃
  〃I should like to know which are your favourites。  No doubt you have
  a copy heremade by yourself;〃 and he looked towards her paper…case。
  There was the copy; and she took it out; peering to see whether
  Norman were looking。
  〃Let me see;〃 he said; as she paused to open the MS。; 〃he told
  me the thoughts were more yours than his own。〃
  〃Did he?  That was not fair。  One thought was an old one; long ago
  talked over between us; the rest is all his own。〃
  Here Mr。 Ogilvie took the paper; and Ethel saw his countenance show
  evident tokens of surprise and feeling。
  〃Yes;〃 he said presently; 〃May goes deepdeeper than most men
  though I doubt whether they will applaud this。〃
  〃I should like it better if they did not;〃 said Ethel。  〃It is rather
  to be felt than shouted at。〃
  〃And I don't know how the world would go on if it were felt。  Few men
  would do much without the hope of fame;〃 said Norman Ogilvie。
  〃Is it the question what they would do?〃 said Ethel。
  〃So you call fame a low motive?  I see where your brother's
  philosophy comes from。〃
  〃I do not call it a low motive〃 Her pause was expressive。
  〃Nor allow that the Non omnis moriar of Horace has in it something
  divine?〃
  〃For a heathenyes。〃
  〃And pray; what would you have the moving spring?〃
  〃Duty。〃
  〃Would not that end in 'Mine be a cot; beside the rill'?〃 said he;
  with an intonation of absurd sentiment。
  〃Well; and suppose an enemy came; would duty prompt not the Hay with
  the jokeor Winkelried on the spears?〃
  〃Nay; why not'It is my duty to take care of Lucy。'〃
  〃Then Lucy ought to be broken on her own wheel。〃
  〃Not at all!  It is Lucy's duty to keep her Colin from running into
  danger。〃
  〃I hope there are not many Lucies who would think so。〃
  〃I agree with you。  Most would rather have Colin killed than
  disgraced。〃
  〃To be sure!〃 then; perceiving a knowing twinkle; as if he thought
  she had made an admission; she added; 〃but what is disgrace?〃
  〃Some say it is misfortune;〃 said Mr。 Ogilvie。
  〃Is it not failure in duty? 〃 said Ethel。
  〃Well!〃
  〃Colin's first duty is to his king and country。  If he fail in that;
  he is disgraced; in his own eyes; before Heaven and men。  If he does
  it; there is a reward; which seems to me a better; more powerful
  motive for Lucy to set before him than 'My dear; I hope you will
  distinguish yourself;' when the fact is;
  'England has forty thousand men;
  We trust; as good as he。'
  〃'Victory or Westminster Abbey!' is a tolerable war…cry;〃 said Mr。
  Ogilvie。
  〃Not so good as 'England expects every man to do his duty。'  That
  serves for those who cannot look to Westminster Abbey。〃
  〃Ah! you are an English woman!〃
  〃Only by halves。  I had rather have been the Master of Glenbracken at
  Flodden than King James; or〃for she grew rather ashamed of having
  been impelled to utter the personal allusion〃better to have been
  the Swinton or the Gordon at Homildon than all the rest put
  together。〃
  〃I always thought Swinton a pig…headed old fellow; and I have little
  doubt that my ancestor was a young ruffian;〃 coolly answered the
  Master of Glenbracken。
  〃Why?〃 was all that Ethel could say in her indignation。
  〃It was the normal state of Scottish gentlemen;〃 he answered。
  〃If I thought you were in earnest; I should say you did not deserve
  to be a Scot。〃
  〃And so you wish to make me out a fause Scot!〃
  〃Ogilvie!〃 called Norman; 〃are you fighting Scottish and English
  battles with Ethel there?  We want you to tell us which will be the
  best day for going to Blenheim。〃
  The rest of the evening was spent in arranging the programme of their
  lionising; in which it appeared that the Scottish cousin intended to
  take his full share。  Ethel was not sorry; for he interested her
  much; while provoking her。  She was obliged to put out her full
  strength in answering him; and felt; at the same time; that he was
  not making any effort in using the arguments that puzzled hershe
  was in earnest; while he was at play; and; though there was something
  teasing in this; and she knew it partook of what her brothers called
  chaffing; it gave her that sense of power on his side; which is
  always attractive to women。  With the knowledge that; through Norman;
  she had of his real character; she understood that half; at least; of
  what he said was jest; and the other half was enough in earnest to
  make it exciting to argue with him。
  CHAPTER IX。
  While I; thy dearest; sat apart;
  And felt thy triumphs were as mine;
  And lov'd them more than they were thine。
  TENNYSON。
  That was a week of weeks; the most memorable week in Ethel's life;
  spent in indefatigable sight…seeing。  College Chapels; Bodleian
  Library; Taylor Gallery; the Museum; all were thoroughly studied;
  and; if Flora had not dragged the party on; in mercy to poor George's
  patience; Ethel would never have got through a day's work。
  Indeed; Mr。 Ogilvie; when annoyed at being hurried in going over
  Merton Chapel with her; was heard to whisper that he acted the part
  of policeman; by a perpetual 〃move on〃; and as Ethel recollected the
  portly form and wooden face of the superintendent at Stoneborough;
  she was afraid that the comparison would not soon be forgotten。
  Norman Ogilvie seemed to consider himself bound to their train as
  much as his namesake; or; as on the second morning; Norman reported
  his reasoning; it was that a man must walk about with somebody on
  Commemoration week; and that it was a comfort to do so with ladies
  who wore their bonnets upon their heads; instead of; like most of
  those he met; remind him of what Cock Robin said to Jenny Wren in
  that matrimonial quarrel; when
  Robin; he grew angry;
  Hopped upon a twig
  Flora was extremely delighted; and; in matronly fashion; told her
  sister that people were always respected and admired who had the
  strength of mind to resist unsuitable customs。  Ethel laughed in
  answer; and said she thought it would take a great deal more strength
  of mind to go about with her whole visage exposed to the universal
  gaze; and; woman…like; they had a thorough gossip over the evils of
  the 〃backsliding〃 head…gear。
  Norman had retreated from it into the window; when Flora returned to
  the charge about Harvey Anderson。  She had been questioning their old
  friend Mr。 Everard; and had learned from him that the cause of the
  hesitation with which his name had been received was that he had
  become imbued with some of the Rationalistic ideas current in some
  quarters。  He seldom met Norman May without forcing on him debates;
  which were subjects of great interest to the hearers; as the two
  young men were considered as the most distinguished representatives
  of their respective causes; among their own immediate contemporaries。
  Norman's powers of argument; his eloquence; readiness; and clearness;
  were thought to rank very high; and; in the opinion of Mr。 Everard;
  had been of great effect in preventing other youths from being
  carried away by the specious brilliancy of his rival。
  Ethel valued this testimony far above the Newdigate prize; and she
  was extremely surprised by hearing Flora declare her intention of
  still asking Mr。 Anderson to dinner; only consulting her brother as
  to the day。
  〃Why; Flora! ask him!  Norman〃
  Norman had turned away with the simple answer; 〃any day。〃
  〃Norman is wiser than you are; Ethel;〃 said Flora。  〃He knows that
  Stoneborough would be up in arms at any neglect from us to one of the
  Andersons; and; considering the rivalship; it is the more graceful;
  and becoming。〃
  〃I do not think it right;〃 said Ethel stoutly; 〃I believe that a line
  ought to be drawn; and that we ought not to associate with people who
  openly tamper with their faith。〃
  〃Never fear;〃 smiled Flora; 〃I promise you that there shall be no
  debates at my table。〃
  Ethel felt the force of the pronoun; and; as Flora walked out of the
  room; she went up to Norman; who had been resting his brow against
  the window。
  〃It is vain to argue with her;〃 she said; 〃but; Norman; do not you
  think it is clearly wrong to seek after men who desert and deny〃
  She stopped short; frightened at his pale look。
  He spoke in a low clear tone that seemed to thrill her with a sort of
  alarm。  〃If the secrets of men's hearts were probed; who could cast
  the first stone?〃
  〃I don't want to cast stones;〃 she began; but he made a gesture as if
  he would not hear; and; at the same moment; Mr。 Ogilvi