tales from two hemispheres[1].(两个半球的故事)-第33节
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that because she avoids〃
Here Inga abruptly clapped her hand over her mouth； and； with sudden
change of voice and expression； said：
〃I am as silent as the grave。〃
〃Yes； you are wonderfully discreet；〃 cried Arnfinn； laughing； while the
girl bit her under lip with an air of penitence and mortification which； in
any other bosom than a cousin's would have aroused compassion。
〃Aha！ So steht's！〃 he broke forth； with another burst of merriment；
then； softened by the sight of a tear that was slowly gathering beneath her
eyelashes； he checked his laughter； crept up to her side； and in a half
childishly coaxing； half caressing tone； he whispered：
〃Dear little cousin； indeed I didn't mean to hurt your feelings。 You
are not angry with me； are you？ And if you will only promise me not to
tell； I have something here which I should like to show you。〃
He well knew that there was nothing which would sooner soothe Inga's
wrath than confiding a secret to her； and while he was a boy； he had； in
cases of sore need； invented secrets lest his life should be made miserable
by the sense that she was displeased with him。 In this instance her anger
was not strong enough to resist the anticipation of a secret； probably
relating to that little drama which had； during the last weeks； been in
progress under her very eyes。 With a resolute movement； she brushed
her tears away； bent eagerly forward； and； in the next moment； her face
was all expectancy and animation。
Arnfinn pulled a thick black note…book from his breast pocket； opened
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it in his lap； and read：
〃August 3； 5 A。 M。My little invalid is doing finely； he seemed to
relish much a few dozen flies which I brought him in my hand。 His pulse
is to…day； for the first time； normal。 He is beginning to step on the
injured leg without apparent pain。
〃10 A。 M。Miss Augusta's eyes have a strange； lustrous brilliancy
whenever she speaks of subjects which seem to agitate the depths of her
being。 How and why is it that an excessive amount of feeling always
finds its first expression in the eye？ One kind of emotion seems to widen
the pupil； another kind to contract it。 TO be noticed in future； how
particular emotions affect the eye。
〃6 P。 M。I met a plover on the beach this afternoon。 By imitating his
cry； I induced him to come within a few feet of me。 The plover； as his
cry indicates； is a very melancholy bird。 In fact I believe the melancholy
temperament to be prevailing among the wading birds； as the phlegmatic
among birds of prey。 The singing birds are choleric or sanguine。 Tease
a thrush； or even a lark； and you will soon be convinced。 A snipe； or
plover； as far as my experience goes； seldom shows anger； you cannot
tease them。 To be considered； how far the voice of a bird may be
indicative of its temperament。
〃August 5； 9 P。 M。Since the unfortunate meeting yesterday morning；
when my intense pre…occupation with my linnet； which had torn its wound
open again； probably made me commit some breach of etiquette； Miss
Augusta avoids me。
〃August 7I am in a most singular state。 My pulse beats 85； which is
a most unheard…of thing for me； as my pulse is naturally full and slow。
And； strangely enough； I do not feel at all unwell。 On the contrary； my
physical well… being is rather heightened than otherwise。 The life of a
whole week is crowded into a day； and that of a day into an hour。〃
Inga； who； at several points of this narrative； had been struggling hard
to preserve her gravity； here burst into a ringing laugh。
〃That is what I call scientific love…making；〃 said Arnfinn； looking up
from the book with an expression of subdued amusement。
〃But Arnfinn；〃 cried the girl； while the laughter quickly died out of her
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face； 〃does Mr。 Strand know that you are reading this？〃
〃To be sure he does。 And that is just what to my mind makes the
situation so excessively comical。 He has himself no suspicion that this
book contains anything but scientific notes。 He appears to prefer the
empiric method in love as in philosophy。 I verily believe that he is
innocently experimenting with himself； with a view to making some great
physiological discovery。〃
〃And so he will； perhaps；〃 rejoined the girl； the mixture of gayety and
grave solicitude making her face； as her cousin thought； particularly
charming。
〃Only not a physiological； but possibly a psychological one；〃
remarked Arnfinn。 〃But listen to this。 Here is something rich：
〃August 9Miss Augusta once said something about the possibility of
animals being immortal。 Her eyes shone with a beautiful animation as
she spoke。 I am longing to continue the subject with her。 It haunts me
the whole day long。 There may be more in the idea than appears to a
superficial observer。〃
〃Oh； how charmingly he understands how to deceive himself；〃 cried
Inga。
〃Merely a quid pro quo；〃 said Arnfinn。
〃I know what I shall do！〃
〃And so do I。〃
〃Won't you tell me； please？〃
〃No。〃
〃Then I sha'n't tell you either。〃
And they flew apart like two thoughtless little birds （〃sanguine；〃 as
Strand would have called them）； each to ponder on some formidable plot
for the reconciliation of the estranged lovers。
V。
During the week that ensued； the multifarious sub…currents of
Strand's passion seemed slowly to gather themselves into one clearly
defined stream； and； after much scientific speculation； he came to the
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conclusion that he loved Augusta。 In a moment of extreme
discouragement； he made a clean breast of it to Arnfinn； at the same time
informing him that he had packed his knapsack； and would start on his
wanderings again the next morning。 All his friend's entreaties were in
vain； he would and must go。 Strand was an exasperatingly head… strong
fellow； and persuasions never prevailed with him。 He had confirmed
himself in the belief that he was very unattractive to women； and that
Augusta； of all women； for some reason which was not quite clear to him；
hated and abhorred him。 Inexperienced as he was； he could see no
reason why she should avoid him； if she did not hate him。 They sat
talking until mid… night； each entangling himself in those passionate
paradoxes and contradictions peculiar to passionate and impulsive youth。
Strand paced the floor with large steps； pouring out his long pent…up
emotion in violent tirades of self… accusation and regret； while Arnfinn sat
on the bed； trying to soothe his excitement by assuring him that he was not
such a monster as； for the moment； he had believed himself to be； but only
succeeding； in spite of all his efforts； in pouring oil on the flames。 Strand
was scientifically convinced that Nature； in accordance with some
inscrutable law of equilibrium； had found it necessary to make him
physically unattractive； perhaps to indemnify mankind for that excess of
intellectual gifts which； at the expense of the race at large； she had
bestowed upon him。
Early the next morning； as a kind of etherealized sunshine broke
through the white muslin curtains of Arnfinn's room； and long streaks of
sun…illumined dust stole through the air toward the sleepe
