a mortal antipathy-第48节
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explains the situation altogether too emphatically。 Such scenes did
not frequently occur between the two friends； and this little flurry
was soon over； but it served to warn Lurida that Miss Euthymia Tower
was not of that class of self…conscious beauties who would be ready
to dispute the empire of the Venus of Milo on her own ground； in
defences as scanty and insufficient as those of the marble divinity。
Euthymia had had admirers enough； at a distance； while at school； and
in the long vacations； near enough to find out that she was anything
but easy to make love to。 She fairly frightened more than one rash
youth who was disposed to be too sentimental in her company。 They
overdid flattery； which she was used to and tolerated； but which
cheapened the admirer in her estimation； and now and then betrayed
her into an expression which made him aware of the fact； and was a
discouragement to aggressive amiability。 The real difficulty was
that not one of her adorers had ever greatly interested her。 It
could not be that nature had made her insensible。 It must have been
because the man who was made for her had never yet shown himself。
She was not easy to please； that was certain； and she was one of
those young women who will not accept as a lover one who but half
pleases them。 She could not pick up the first stick that fell in her
way and take it to shape her ideal out of。 Many of the good people
of the village doubted whether Euthymia would ever be married。
〃There 's nothing good enough for her in this village；〃 said the old
landlord of what had been the Anchor Tavern。
〃She must wait till a prince comes along；〃 the old landlady said in
reply。 〃She'd make as pretty a queen as any of them that's born to
it。 Wouldn't she be splendid with a gold crown on her head； and
di'monds a glitterin' all over her！ D' you remember how handsome she
looked in the tableau； when the fair was held for the Dorcas Society？
She had on an old dress of her grandma's；they don't make anything。
half so handsome nowadays；and she was just as pretty as a pictur'。
But what's the use of good looks if they scare away folks？ The young
fellows think that such a handsome girl as that would cost ten times
as much to keep as a plain one。 She must be dressed up like an
empress；so they seem to think。 It ain't so with Euthymy： she'd
look like a great lady dressed anyhow； and she has n't got any more
notions than the homeliest girl that ever stood before a glass to
look at herself。〃
In the humbler walks of Arrowhead Village society； similar opinions
were entertained of Miss Euthymia。 The fresh…water fisherman
represented pretty well the average estimate of the class to which he
belonged。 'I tell ye；〃 said he to another gentleman of leisure；
whose chief occupation was to watch the coming and going of the
visitors to Arrowhead Village；〃I tell ye that girl ain't a gon to
put up with any o' them slab…sided fellahs that you see hangin'
raound to look at her every Sunday when she comes aout o' meetin'。
It's one o' them big gents from Boston or New York that'll step up
an' kerry her off。〃
In the mean time nothing could be further from the thoughts of
Euthymia than the prospect of an ambitious worldly alliance。 The
ideals of young women cost them many and great disappointments； but
they save them very often from those lifelong companionships which
accident is constantly trying to force upon them； in spite of their
obvious unfitness。 The higher the ideal； the less likely is the
commonplace neighbor who has the great advantage of easy access； or
the boarding…house acquaintance who can profit by those vacant hours
when the least interesting of visitors is better than absolute
loneliness；the less likely are these undesirable personages to be
endured； pitied； and； if not embraced； accepted； for want of
something better。 Euthymia found so much pleasure in the
intellectual companionship of Lurida； and felt her own prudence and
reserve so necessary to that independent young lady； that she had
been contented； so far； with friendship； and thought of love only in
an abstract sort of way。 Beneath her abstractions there was a
capacity of loving which might have been inferred from the expression
of her features； the light that shone in her eyes； the tones of her
voice； all of which were full of the language which belongs to
susceptible natures。 How many women never say to themselves that
they were born to love； until all at once the discovery opens upon
them； as the sense that he was born a painter is said to have dawned
suddenly upon Correggio！
Like all the rest of the village and its visitors； she could not help
thinking a good deal about the young man lying ill amongst strangers。
She was not one of those who had sent him the three…cornered notes or
even a bunch of flowers。 She knew that he was receiving abounding
tokens of kindness and sympathy from different quarters； and a
certain inward feeling restrained her from joining in these
demonstrations。 If he had been suffering from some deadly and
contagious malady she would have risked her life to help him； without
a thought that there was any wonderful heroism in such self…devotion。
Her friend Lurida might have been capable of the same sacrifice； but
it would be after reasoning with herself as to the obligations which
her sense of human rights and duties laid upon her； and fortifying
her courage with the memory of noble deeds recorded of women in
ancient and modern history。 With Euthymia the primary human
instincts took precedence of all reasoning or reflection about them。
All her sympathies were excited by the thought of this forlorn
stranger in his solitude； but she felt the impossibility of giving
any complete expression to them。 She thought of Mungo Park in the
African desert； and she envied the poor negress who not only pitied
him； but had the blessed opportunity of helping and consoling him。
How near were these two human creatures； each needing the other！ How
near in bodily presence； how far apart in their lives； with a barrier
seemingly impassable between them ！
XXIII
THE MEETING OF MAURICE AND EUTHYMIA。
These autumnal fevers； which carry off a large number of our young
people every year； are treacherous and deceptive diseases。 Not only
are they liable； as has been mentioned； to various accidental
complications which may prove suddenly fatal； but too often； after
convalescence seems to be established； relapses occur which are more
serious than the disease had appeared to be in its previous course。
One morning Dr。 Butts found Maurice worse instead of better； as he
had hoped and expected to find him。 Weak as he was； there was every
reason to fear the issue of this return of his threatening symptoms。
There was not much to do besides keeping up the little strength which
still remained。 It was all needed。
Does the reader of these pages ever think of the work a sick man as
much as a well one has to perform while he is lying on his back and
taking what we call his 〃rest〃？ More than a thousand times an hour；
between a hundred and fifty and two hundred thousand times a week； he
has to lift the bars of the cage in which his breathing organs are
confined； to save himself from asphyxia。 Rest！ There is no rest
until the last long sigh tells those who look upon the dying that the
ceaseless daily task； to rest from which is death； is at last
finished。 We are all galley…slaves； pulling at the levers of
respiration；which； rising and falling like so many oars； drive us
across an unfathomable ocean from one unknown shore to another。 No！
Never was a galley…slave so chained as we are to these four and
twenty oars； at which we must tug day and night all our life long
The doctor could not find any accidental cause to account for this
relapse。 It presently occurred to him that there might be some local
source of infection which had brought on the complaint； and was still
keeping up the symptoms which were the ground of alarm。 He
determined to remove Maurice to his own house； where he could be sure
of pure air； and where he himself could give more constant attention
to his patient during this critical period of his disease。 It was a
risk to take； but he could be carried on a litter by careful men； and
remain wholly passive during the removal。 Maurice signified his
assent； as he could hardly help doing；for the doctor's suggestion
took pretty nearly the form of a command。 He thought it a matter of
life and death； and was gently urgent for his patient's immediate
change of residence。 The doctor insisted on having Maurice's books
and other movable articles carried to his own house； so that he
should be surrounded by familiar sights； and not worry himself about
what might happen to objects which he valued； if they were left
behind him。
All these dispositions were quickly and quiet
