round the red lamp(红灯四周)-第37节
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〃Because Bellingham is engaged to his sister Eveline。 Such a bright
little girl； Smith！ I know the whole family well。 It's disgusting to see
that brute with her。 A toad and a dove； that's what they always remind
me of。〃
Abercrombie Smith grinned and knocked his ashes out against the side
of the grate。
〃You show every card in your hand； old chap；〃 said he。 〃What a
prejudiced； green…eyed； evil…thinking old man it is！ You have really
nothing against the fellow except that。〃
〃Well； I've known her ever since she was as long as that cherry…wood
pipe； and I don't like to see her taking risks。 And it is a risk。 He looks
beastly。 And he has a beastly temper； a venomous temper。 You
remember his row with Long Norton？〃
〃No； you always forget that I am a freshman。〃
〃Ah； it was last winter。 Of course。 Well； you know the towpath
along by the river。 There were several fellows going along it；
Bellingham in front； when they came on an old market…woman coming the
other way。 It had been rainingyou know what those fields are like when
it has rainedand the path ran between the river and a great puddle that
was nearly as broad。 Well； what does this swine do but keep the path；
and push the old girl into the mud； where she and her marketings came to
terrible grief。 It was a blackguard thing to do； and Long Norton； who is
as gentle a fellow as ever stepped； told him what he thought of it。 One
word led to another； and it ended in Norton laying his stick across the
fellow's shoulders。 There was the deuce of a fuss about it； and it's a treat
to see the way in which Bellingham looks at Norton when they meet now。
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By Jove； Smith； it's nearly eleven o'clock！〃
〃No hurry。 Light your pipe again。〃
〃Not I。 I'm supposed to be in training。 Here I've been sitting
gossiping when I ought to have been safely tucked up。 I'll borrow your
skull； if you can share it。 Williams has had mine for a month。 I'll take
the little bones of your ear； too； if you are sure you won't need them。
Thanks very much。 Never mind a bag； I can carry them very well under
my arm。 Good…night； my son； and take my tip as to your neighbour。〃
When Hastie； bearing his anatomical plunder； had clattered off down
the winding stair； Abercrombie Smith hurled his pipe into the wastepaper
basket； and drawing his chair nearer to the lamp； plunged into a
formidable green…covered volume； adorned with great colored maps of
that strange internal kingdom of which we are the hapless and helpless
monarchs。 Though a freshman at Oxford； the student was not so in
medicine； for he had worked for four years at Glasgow and at Berlin； and
this coming examination would place him finally as a member of his
profession。 With his firm mouth； broad forehead； and clear…cut；
somewhat hard…featured face； he was a man who； if he had no brilliant
talent； was yet so dogged； so patient； and so strong that he might in the end
overtop a more showy genius。 A man who can hold his own among
Scotchmen and North Germans is not a man to be easily set back。 Smith
had left a name at Glasgow and at Berlin； and he was bent now upon doing
as much at Oxford； if hard work and devotion could accomplish it。
He had sat reading for about an hour； and the hands of the noisy
carriage clock upon the side table were rapidly closing together upon the
twelve； when a sudden sound fell upon the student's eara sharp； rather
shrill sound； like the hissing intake of a man's breath who gasps under
some strong emotion。 Smith laid down his book and slanted his ear to
listen。 There was no one on either side or above him； so that the
interruption came certainly from the neighbour beneaththe same
neighbour of whom Hastie had given so unsavoury an account。 Smith
knew him only as a flabby； pale…faced man of silent and studious habits； a
man； whose lamp threw a golden bar from the old turret even after he had
extinguished his own。 This community in lateness had formed a certain
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silent bond between them。 It was soothing to Smith when the hours stole
on towards dawning to feel that there was another so close who set as
small a value upon his sleep as he did。 Even now； as his thoughts turned
towards him； Smith's feelings were kindly。 Hastie was a good fellow； but
he was rough； strong…fibred； with no imagination or sympathy。 He could
not tolerate departures from what he looked upon as the model type of
manliness。 If a man could not be measured by a public…school standard；
then he was beyond the pale with Hastie。 Like so many who are
themselves robust； he was apt to confuse the constitution with the
character； to ascribe to want of principle what was really a want of
circulation。 Smith； with his stronger mind； knew his friend's habit； and
made allowance for it now as his thoughts turned towards the man beneath
him。
There was no return of the singular sound； and Smith was about to turn
to his work once more； when suddenly there broke out in the silence of the
night a hoarse cry； a positive screamthe call of a man who is moved and
shaken beyond all control。 Smith sprang out of his chair and dropped his
book。 He was a man of fairly firm fibre； but there was something in this
sudden； uncontrollable shriek of horror which chilled his blood and
pringled in his skin。 Coming in such a place and at such an hour； it
brought a thousand fantastic possibilities into his head。 Should he rush
down； or was it better to wait？ He had all the national hatred of making a
scene； and he knew so little of his neighbour that he would not lightly
intrude upon his affairs。 For a moment he stood in doubt and even as he
balanced the matter there was a quick rattle of footsteps upon the stairs；
and young Monkhouse Lee； half dressed and as white as ashes； burst into
his room。
〃Come down！〃 he gasped。 〃Bellingham's ill。〃
Abercrombie Smith followed him closely down stairs into the sitting…
room which was beneath his own； and intent as he was upon the matter in
hand； he could not but take an amazed glance around him as he crossed
the threshold。 It was such a chamber as he had never seen beforea
museum rather than a study。 Walls and ceiling were thickly covered with
a thousand strange relics from Egypt and the East。 Tall； angular figures
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bearing burdens or weapons stalked in an uncouth frieze round the
apartments。 Above were bull…headed； stork…headed； cat…headed； owl…
headed statues； with viper…crowned； almond…eyed monarchs； and strange；
beetle…like deities cut out of the blue Egyptian lapis lazuli。 Horus and
Isis and Osiris peeped down from every niche and shelf； while across the
ceiling a true son of Old Nile； a great； hanging…jawed crocodile； was slung
in a double noose。
In the centre of this singular chamber was a large； square table； littered
with papers； bottles； and the dried leaves of some graceful； palm…like plant。
These varied objects had all been heaped together in order to make room
for a mummy case； which had been conveyed from the wall； as was
evident from the gap there； and laid across the front of the table。 The
mummy itself； a horrid； black； withered thing； like a charred head on a
gnarled bush； was lying half out of the case；
