第 121 节
作者:这就是结局      更新:2022-08-21 16:40      字数:9321
  there was a beautiful horticultural show; something was always
  prompting her to say; while in this quasi…privacy; that she was on
  the eve of departure; but she kept her resolution against itshe
  thought it would have been an unwarrantable experiment。  When they
  returned to their inn they found Norman looking fagged; but relieved;
  half asleep on the sofa; with a novel in his hand。  He roused himself
  as they came in; and; to avoid any compliments on his own
  performance; began; 〃Well; Ethel; are you ready for the ball?〃
  〃We shall spare her the ball;〃 said Dr。 May; 〃there is a report about
  the Alcestis in the newspaper that may make Margaret uncomfortable;
  and this good sister will not stay away from her。〃
  Norman started up crying; 〃What; papa?〃
  〃It is a mere nothing in reality;〃 said Dr。 May; 〃only what we knew
  before;〃 and he showed his son the paragraph; which Norman read as a
  death warrant; the colour ebbed from his lips and cheeks; he trembled
  so that he was obliged to sit down; and; without speaking; he kept
  his eyes fixed on the words; 〃Serious apprehensions are entertained
  with regard to H。 M。 S。 Alcestis; Captain Gordon〃
  〃If you had seen as many newspaper reports come to nothing; as I
  have; you would not take this so much to heart;〃 said Dr。 May。  〃I
  expect to hear that this very mail has brought letters。〃
  And Meta added that; at luncheon; she had been seated next to one of
  the honorary doctorsa naval captainwho had been making
  discoveries in the South Sea; and that he had scouted the notion of
  harm befalling the Alcestis; and given all manner of reassuring
  suppositions as to her detention; adding besides; that no one
  believed the Australian paper whence the report was taken。  He had
  seen the Alcestis; knew Captain Gordon; and spoke of him as one of
  the safest people in the world。  Had his acquaintance extended to
  lieutenants and midshipmen; it would have been perfect; as it was;
  the tidings brought back the blood to Norman's cheek; and the light
  to his eye。
  〃When do we set off?〃 was Norman's question。
  〃At five;〃 said Ethel。 〃You mean it; papa?〃
  〃I did intend it; if I had gone alone; but I shall not take you till
  eight; nor you; Norman; at all。〃
  Norman was bent on returning; but his father and Flora would not hear
  of it。  Flora could not spare him; and Dr。 May was afraid of the
  effect of anxiety on nerves and spirits so sensitive。  While this was
  going on; Mr。 Ogilvie looked at Ethel in consternation; and said;
  〃Are you really going home?〃
  〃Yes; my eldest sister must not be left alone when she hears this。〃
  He looked downEthel had the resolution to walk away。  Flora could
  not give up the ball; and Meta found that she must go; but both the
  Normans spent a quiet evening with Dr。 May and Ethel。  Norman May had
  a bad headache; which he was allowed to have justly earned; Dr。 May
  was very happy reviving all his Scottish recollections; and talking
  to young Ogilvie about Edinburgh。  Once; there was a private
  consultation。  Ethel was provoked and ashamed at the throbs that it
  would excite。  What! on a week's acquaintance?
  When alone with her father; she began to nerve herself for something
  heroic; and great was her shame when she heard only of her cousin's
  kind consideration for her brother; whom he wished to take home with
  him; and thence to see the Highlands; so as to divert his anxiety for
  Harry; as well as to call him off from the studies with which he had
  this term overworked himself even more than usual。  Dr。 May had given
  most grateful consent; and he spoke highly in praise of the youth;
  but there was no more to come; and Ethel could have beaten herself
  for the moment of anticipation。
  Meta came home; apologising for wakening Ethel; but Ethel had not
  been asleep。  The ball had not; it seemed; been as charming to her as
  most events were; and Ethel heard a sigh as the little lady lay down
  in her bed。
  Late as it was when she went to rest; Meta rose to see the travellers
  off; she sent hosts of messages to her father; and wished she might
  go with them。  George and Flora were not visible; and Dr。 May was
  leaving messages for them; and for Norman; in her charge; when the
  two Balliol men walked in。
  Ethel had hoped it was over; yet she could not be sorry that the two
  youths escorted them to the station; and; as Ethel was placed in the
  carriage; she believed that she heard something of never forgetting
  happiest weekbut in the civilities which the other occupant of the
  carriage was offering for the accommodation of their lesser luggage;
  she lost the exact words; and the last she heard were; 〃Good…bye; I
  hope you will find letters at home。〃
  CHAPTER X。
  True to the kindred points of Heaven and home。
  WORDSWORTH。
  Etheldred's dream was over。  She had wakened to the inside of a Great
  Western carriage; her father beside her; and opposite a thin;
  foreign…looking gentleman。  Her father; to whom her life was to be
  devoted!  She looked at his profile; defined against the window; and
  did not repent。  In a sort of impulse to do something for him; she
  took his hat from his hand; and was going to dispose of it in the
  roof; when he turned; smiling his thanks; but saying; 〃it was not
  worth whilethis carriage was a very transitory resting…place。〃
  The stranger at that moment sprang to his feet; exclaiming; 〃Dick
  himself!〃
  〃Spencer; old fellow; is it you?〃 cried Dr。 May; in a voice of equal
  amazement and joy; holding out his hand; which was grasped and wrung
  with a force that made Ethel shrink for the poor maimed arm。
  〃Ha! what is amiss with your arm?〃 was the immediate question。  Three
  technical words were spoken in a matter…of…fact way; as Dr。 May
  replaced his hand in his bosom; and then; with an eager smile; said;
  〃Ethel; here!  You have heard of him!〃
  Ethel had indeed; and gave her hand cordially; surprised by the bow
  and air of deferential politeness with which it was received; like a
  favour; while Dr。 Spencer asked her whether she had been staying in
  Oxford。
  〃Ay; and what for; do you think?〃 said Dr。 May joyously。
  〃You don't say that was your son who held forth yesterday!  I thought
  his voice had a trick of yoursbut then I thought you would have
  held by old Cambridge。〃
  〃What could I do?〃 said Dr。 May deprecatingly; 〃the boy would go and
  get a Balliol scholarship〃
  〃Why! the lad is a genius! a poetno mistake about it! but I
  scarcely thought you could have one of such an age。〃
  〃Of his age!  His brother is in Holy Ordersone of his sisters is
  married。  There's for you; Spencer!〃
  〃Bless me; Dick!  I thought myself a young man!〃
  〃What! with hair of that colour?〃 said Dr。 May; looking at his
  friend's milk…white locks。
  〃Bleached by that frightful sickly season at Poonshedagore; when I
  thought I was done for。  But you! youthe boy of the whole lot!  You
  think me very disrespectful to your father;〃 added he; turning to
  Ethel; 〃but you see what old times are。〃
  〃I know;〃 said Ethel; with a bright look。
  〃So you were in the theatre yesterday;〃 continued Dr。 May; 〃but there
  is no seeing any one in such a throng。  How long have you been in
  England?〃
  〃A fortnight。  I went at once to see my sister; at Malvern; there I
  fell in with Rudden; the man I was with in New Guinea。  He was going
  up to be made an honorary doctor; and made me come with him。〃
  〃And where are you bound for?〃 as the train showed signs of a halt。
  〃For London。  I meant to hunt up Mat。 Fleet; and hear of you; and
  other old friends。〃
  〃Does he expect you?〃
  〃No one expects me。  I am a regular vagabond。〃
  〃Come home with us;〃 said Dr。 May; laying his hand on his arm。  〃I
  cannot part with you so soon。  Come; find your luggage。  Take your
  ticket for Gloucester。〃
  〃So suddenly!  Will it not be inconvenient?〃 said he; looking
  tempted; but irresolute。
  〃Oh; no; no; pray come!〃 said Ethel eagerly。  〃We shall be so glad。〃
  He looked his courteous thanks; and soon was with them en…route for
  Stoneborough。
  Ethel's thoughts were diverted from all she had left at Oxford。  She
  could not but watch those two old friends。  She knew enough of the
  traveller to enter into her father's happiness; and to have no fears
  is of another Sir Matthew。
  They had been together at Stoneborough; at Cambridge; at Paris; at
  Edinburgh; always linked in the closest friendship; but; by Dr。 May's
  own account; his friend had been the diligent one of the pair; a
  bright compound of principle and spirit; and highly distinguished in
  all his studies; and Dr。 May's model of perfection。  Their paths had
  since lain far apart; and they had not seen each other since; twenty…
  six years ago; they had parted in Londonthe one to settle at his
  native town; while the other accepted a situation as travelling
  physician。  On his return; he had almost sacrificed his life; by
  self…devoted attendance on a fever…stricken emigrant…ship。  He had
  afterwards received an appointment in India; and there the
  correspondence had died away; and Dr。 May had lost traces of him;
  only knowing that; in a visitation of cholera; he had again acted
  with the same carelessness of his own life; and a severe illness;
  which