round the red lamp(红灯四周)-第25节
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I thought my old life was dead。 But it has come back again； with all its
hopes and its desires。 What can I say to you； Ainslie？ I have brought
shame and disgrace upon a worthy man。 I have blasted your life。 How
you must hate and loathe me！ I wish to God that I had never been born！〃
〃I neither hate nor loathe you； Jeannette；〃 said the Professor； quietly。
〃You are wrong in regretting your birth； for you have a worthy mission
before you in aiding the life…work of a man who has shown himself
capable of the highest order of scientific research。 I cannot with justice
blame you personally for what has occurred。 How far the individual
monad is to be held responsible for hereditary and engrained tendencies； is
a question upon which science has not yet said her last word。〃
He stood with his finger…tips touching； and his body inclined as one
who is gravely expounding a difficult and impersonal subject。 O'Brien
had stepped forward to say something； but the other's attitude and manner
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froze the words upon his lips。 Condolence or sympathy would be an
impertinence to one who could so easily merge his private griefs in broad
questions of abstract philosophy。
〃It is needless to prolong the situation；〃 the Professor continued； in the
same measured tones。 〃My brougham stands at the door。 I beg that you
will use it as your own。 Perhaps it would be as well that you should
leave the town without unnecessary delay。 Your things； Jeannette； shall
be forwarded。〃
O'Brien hesitated with a hanging head。
〃I hardly dare offer you my hand；〃 he said。
〃On the contrary。 I think that of the three of us you come best out of
the affair。 You have nothing to be ashamed of。〃
〃Your sister〃
〃I shall see that the matter is put to her in its true light。 Good…bye！
Let me have a copy of your recent research。 Good…bye； Jeannette！〃
〃Good…bye！〃
Their hands met； and for one short moment their eyes also。 It was
only a glance； but for the first and last time the woman's intuition cast a
light for itself into the dark places of a strong man's soul。 She gave a
little gasp； and her other hand rested for an instant； as white and as light as
thistle…down； upon his shoulder。
〃James； James！〃 she cried。 〃Don't you see that he is stricken to the
heart？〃
He turned her quietly away from him。
〃I am not an emotional man；〃 he said。 〃I have my dutiesmy research
on Vallisneria。 The brougham is there。 Your cloak is in the hall。 Tell
John where you wish to be driven。 He will bring you anything you need。
Now go。〃
His last two words were so sudden； so volcanic； in such contrast to his
measured voice and mask… like face； that they swept the two away from
him。 He closed the door behind them and paced slowly up and down the
room。 Then he passed into the library and looked out over the wire blind。
The carriage was rolling away。 He caught a last glimpse of the woman
who had been his wife。 He saw the feminine droop of her head； and the
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curve of her beautiful throat。
Under some foolish； aimless impulse； he took a few quick steps
towards the door。 Then he turned； and throwing himself into his study…
chair he plunged back into his work。
There was little scandal about this singular domestic incident。 The
Professor had few personal friends； and seldom went into society。 His
marriage had been so quiet that most of his colleagues had never ceased to
regard him as a bachelor。 Mrs。 Esdaile and a few others might talk； but
their field for gossip was limited； for they could only guess vaguely at the
cause of this sudden separation。
The Professor was as punctual as ever at his classes； and as zealous in
directing the laboratory work of those who studied under him。 His own
private researches were pushed on with feverish energy。 It was no
uncommon thing for his servants； when they came down of a morning； to
hear the shrill scratchings of his tireless pen； or to meet him on the
staircase as he ascended； grey and silent； to his room。 In vain his friends
assured him that such a life must undermine his health。 He lengthened
his hours until day and night were one long； ceaseless task。
Gradually under this discipline a change came over his appearance。
His features； always inclined to gauntness； became even sharper and more
pronounced。 There were deep lines about his temples and across his
brow。 His cheek was sunken and his complexion bloodless。 His knees
gave under him when he walked； and once when passing out of his
lecture… room he fell and had to be assisted to his carriage。
This was just before the end of the session and soon after the holidays
commenced the professors who still remained in Birchespool were
shocked to hear that their brother of the chair of physiology had sunk so
low that no hopes could be entertained of his recovery。 Two eminent
physicians had consulted over his case without being able to give a name
to the affection from which he suffered。 A steadily decreasing vitality
appeared to be the only symptom a bodily weakness which left the mind
unclouded。 He was much interested himself in his own case； and made
notes of his subjective sensations as an aid to diagnosis。 Of his
approaching end he spoke in his usual unemotional and somewhat
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pedantic fashion。 〃It is the assertion；〃 he said； 〃of the liberty of the
individual cell as opposed to the cell…commune。 It is the dissolution of a
co…operative society。 The process is one of great interest。〃
And so one grey morning his co…operative society dissolved。 Very
quietly and softly he sank into his eternal sleep。 His two physicians felt
some slight embarrassment when called upon to fill in his certificate。
〃It is difficult to give it a name；〃 said one。
〃Very；〃 said the other。
〃If he were not such an unemotional man； I should have said that he
had died from some sudden nervous shockfrom； in fact； what the vulgar
would call a broken heart。〃
〃I don't think poor Grey was that sort of a man at all。〃
〃Let us call it cardiac； anyhow；〃 said the older physician。
So they did so。
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THE CASE OF LADY SANNOX。
The relations between Douglas Stone and the notorious Lady Sannox
were very well known both among the fashionable circles of which she
was a brilliant member； and the scientific bodies which numbered him
among their most illustrious confreres。 There was naturally； therefore； a
very widespread interest when it was announced one morning that the lady
had absolutely and for ever taken the veil； and that the world would see
her no more。 When； at the very tail of this rumour； there came the
assurance that the celebrated operating surgeon； the man of steel nerves；
had been found in the morning by his valet； seated on one side of his bed；
smiling pleasantly upon the universe； with both legs jammed into one side
of his breeches and his great brain about as valuable as a cap full of
porridge； the matter was strong enough to give quite a little thrill of
interest to folk who had never hoped that their jaded nerves were capable
of such a sensation。
Douglas Stone in his prime was one of the most remarkable men in
England。 Indeed； he could hardly be said to have ever reached his prime；
for he was but nine…and…thirty at the time of this little incident。 Those
who knew hi
