round the red lamp(红灯四周)-第31节
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England without you。 You must go to Tangier as the Minister's wife。
Now； you will sit there on the settee； dear； and let me manage entirely。
There is Sir William's carriage！ I do think that I know how to manage Sir
William。 James； just ask the doctor to step in this way！〃
A heavy； two…horsed carriage had drawn up at the door； and there came
a single stately thud upon the knocker。 An instant afterwards the
drawing…room door flew open and the footman ushered in the famous
physician。 He was a small man； clean…shaven； with the old…fashioned
black dress and white cravat with high…standing collar。 He swung his
golden pince… nez in his right hand as he walked； and bent forward with a
peering； blinking expression； which was somehow suggestive of the dark
and complex cases through which he had seen。
〃Ah〃 said he； as he entered。 〃My young patient！ I am glad of the
opportunity。〃
〃Yes； I wish to speak to you about her； Sir William。 Pray take this
arm…chair。〃
〃Thank you； I will sit beside her；〃 said he； taking his place upon the
settee。 〃She is looking better； less anaemic unquestionably； and a fuller
pulse。 Quite a little tinge of colour； and yet not hectic。〃
〃I feel stronger； Sir William。〃
〃But she still has the pain in the side。〃
〃Ah； that pain！〃 He tapped lightly under the collar…bones； and then
bent forward with his biaural stethoscope in either ear。 〃Still a trace of
dulnessstill a slight crepitation；〃 he murmured。
〃You spoke of a change； doctor。〃
〃Yes； certainly a judicious change might be advisable。〃
〃You said a dry climate。 I wish to do to the letter what you
recommend。〃
〃You have always been model patients。〃
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〃We wish to be。 You said a dry climate。〃
〃Did I？ I rather forget the particulars of our conversation。 But a dry
climate is certainly indicated。〃
〃Which one？〃
〃Well； I think really that a patient should be allowed some latitude。 I
must not exact too rigid discipline。 There is room for individual choice
the Engadine； Central Europe； Egypt； Algiers； which you like。〃
〃I hear that Tangier is also recommended。〃
〃Oh； yes； certainly； it is very dry。〃
〃You hear； Ida？ Sir William says that you are to go to Tangier。〃
〃Or any〃
〃No； no； Sir William！ We feel safest when we are most obedient。
You have said Tangier； and we shall certainly try Tangier。〃
〃Really； Lady Clara； your implicit faith is most flattering。 It is not
everyone who would sacrifice their own plans and inclinations so readily。〃
〃We know your skill and your experience； Sir William。 Ida shall try
Tangier。 I am convinced that she will be benefited。〃
〃I have no doubt of it。〃
〃But you know Lord Charles。 He is just a little inclined to decide
medical matters as he would an affair of State。 I hope that you will be
firm with him。〃
〃As long as Lord Charles honours me so far as to ask my advice I am
sure that he would not place me in the false position of having that advice
disregarded。〃
The medical baronet whirled round the cord of his pince…nez and
pushed out a protesting hand。
〃No； no； but you must be firm on the point of Tangier。〃
〃Having deliberately formed the opinion that Tangier is the best place
for our young patient； I do not think that I shall readily change my
conviction。〃
〃Of course not。〃
〃I shall speak to Lord Charles upon the subject now when I go
upstairs。〃
〃Pray do。〃
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〃And meanwhile she will continue her present course of treatment。 I
trust that the warm African air may send her back in a few months with all
her energy restored。〃
He bowed in the courteous； sweeping； old…world fashion which had
done so much to build up his ten thousand a year； and； with the stealthy
gait of a man whose life is spent in sick…rooms； he followed the footman
upstairs。
As the red velvet curtains swept back into position； the Lady Ida threw
her arms round her mother's neck and sank her face on to her bosom。
〃Oh！ mamma； you ARE a diplomatist！〃 she cried。
But her mother's expression was rather that of the general who looked
upon the first smoke of the guns than of one who had won the victory。
〃All will be right； dear；〃 said she； glancing down at the fluffy yellow
curls and tiny ear。 〃There is still much to be done； but I think we may
venture to order the trousseau。〃
〃Oh I how brave you are！〃
〃Of course； it will in any case be a very quiet affair。 Arthur must get
the license。 I do not approve of hole…and…corner marriages； but where the
gentleman has to take up an official position some allowance must be
made。 We can have Lady Hilda Edgecombe； and the Trevors； and the
Grevilles； and I am sure that the Prime Minister would run down if he
could。〃
〃And papa？〃
〃Oh； yes； he will come too； if he is well enough。 We must wait until
Sir William goes； and； meanwhile； I shall write to Lord Arthur。〃
Half an hour had passed； and quite a number of notes had been dashed
off in the fine； bold； park… paling handwriting of the Lady Clara； when the
door clashed； and the wheels of the doctor's carriage were heard grating
outside against the kerb。 The Lady Clara laid down her pen； kissed her
daughter； and started off for the sick…room。 The Foreign Minister was
lying back in his chair； with a red silk handkerchief over his forehead； and
his bulbous； cotton…wadded foot still protruding upon its rest。
〃I think it is almost liniment time；〃 said Lady Clara； shaking a blue
crinkled bottle。 〃Shall I put on a little？〃
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〃Oh！ this pestilent toe！〃 groaned the sufferer。 〃Sir William won't hear
of my moving yet。 I do think he is the most completely obstinate and
pig… headed man that I have ever met。 I tell him that he has mistaken his
profession； and that I could find him a post at Constantinople。 We need a
mule out there。〃
〃Poor Sir William！〃 laughed Lady Clara。 But how has he roused
your wrath？〃
〃He is so persistent…so dogmatic。〃
〃Upon what point？ 〃
〃Well； he has been laying down the law about Ida。 He has decreed； it
seems； that she is to go to Tangier。〃
〃He said something to that effect before he went up to you。〃
〃Oh； he did； did he？〃
The slow…moving； inscrutable eye came sliding round to her。
Lady Clara's face had assumed an expression of transparent obvious
innocence； an intrusive candour which is never seen in nature save when a
woman is bent upon deception。
〃He examined her lungs； Charles。 He did not say much； but his
expression was very grave。〃
〃Not to say owlish；〃 interrupted the Minister。
〃No； no； Charles； it is no laughing matter。 He said that she must have
a change。 I am sure that he thought more than he said。 He spoke of
dulness and crepitation。 and the effects of the African air。 Then the talk
turned upon dry； bracing health resorts； and he agreed that Tangier was the
place。 He said that even a few months there would work a change。〃
〃And that was all？〃
〃Yes； that was all。〃
Lord Charles shrugged his shoulders with the air of a man who is but
half convinced。
〃But of course；〃 said Lady Clara； serenely； if you think it better that
Ida should not go she shall not。 The only thing is that if she should get
worse we might feel a little uncomfortable afterwards。 In a weakness of
that sort a very short time may make a difference。 Sir William evidently
thought the matter critical。 Still； there is no reason why he should
