tommy and co[1].(托米和科)-第17节
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proved to Miss Appleyard how true it is that to do good to others is the
highest joy。
Miss Appleyard had come prepared for possible acceptance。 〃You
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had better begin with this；〃 thought Miss Appleyard。 〃I have marked
the passages that you should learn by heart。 Make a note of anything
you do not understand； and I will explain it to you when when next I
happen to be passing。〃
Grindley junior took the bookBell's Introduction to the Study of the
Classics； for Use of Beginnersand held it between both hands。 Its
price was ninepence； but Grindley junior appeared to regard it as a
volume of great value。
〃It will be hard work at first；〃 Miss Appleyard warned him； 〃but you
must persevere。 I have taken an interest in you； you must try not to
disappoint me。〃
And Miss Appleyard； feeling all the sensations of a Hypatia；
departed； taking light with her and forgetting to pay for the telegram。
Miss Appleyard belonged to the class that young ladies who pride
themselves on being tiresomely ignorant and foolish sneer at as 〃blue…
stockings〃； that is to say； possessing brains； she had felt the necessity of
using them。 Solomon Appleyard； widower； a sensible old gentleman；
prospering in the printing business； and seeing no necessity for a woman
regarding herself as nothing but a doll； a somewhat uninteresting
plaything the newness once worn off； thankfully encouraged her。 Miss
Appleyard had returned from Girton wise in many things； but not in
knowledge of the world； which knowledge； too early acquired； does not
always make for good in young man or woman。 A serious little virgin；
Miss Appleyard's ambition was to help the human race。 What more
useful work could have come to her hand than the raising of this poor
but intelligent young grocer's assistant unto the knowledge and the love
of higher things。 That Grindley junior happened to be an exceedingly
good… looking and charming young grocer's assistant had nothing to do
with the matter； so Miss Appleyard would have informed you。 In her
own reasoning she was convinced that her interest in him would have
been the same had he been the least attractive of his sex。 That there
could be danger in such relationship never occurred to her。
Miss Appleyard； a convinced Radical； could not conceive the
possibility of a grocer's assistant regarding the daughter of a well…to…do
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printer in any other light than that of a graciously condescending patron。
That there could be danger to herself！ you would have been sorry you
had suggested the idea。 The expression of lofty scorn would have
made you feel yourself contemptible。
Miss Appleyard's judgment of mankind was justified； no more
promising pupil could have been selected。 It was really marvellous the
progress made by Grindley junior； under the tutelage of Helvetia
Appleyard。 His earnestness； his enthusiasm； it quite touched the heart
of Helvetia Appleyard。 There were many points； it is true； that puzzled
Grindley junior。 Each time the list of them grew longer。 But when
Helvetia Appleyard explained them； all became clear。 She marvelled
herself at her own wisdom； that in a moment made darkness luminous to
this young man； his rapt attention while she talked； it was most
encouraging。 The boy must surely be a genius。 To think that but for
her intuition he might have remained wasted in a grocer's shop！ To
rescue such a gem from oblivion； to polish it； was surely the duty of a
conscientious Hypatia。 Two visitsthree visits a week to the little shop
in Rolls Court were quite inadequate； so many passages there were
requiring elucidation。 London in early morning became their
classroom： the great； wide； empty； silent streets； the mist… curtained
parks； the silence broken only by the blackbirds' amorous whistle； the
thrushes' invitation to delight； the old gardens； hidden behind narrow
ways。 Nathaniel George and Janet Helvetia would rest upon a seat； no
living creature within sight； save perhaps a passing policeman or some
dissipated cat。 Janet Helvetia would expound。 Nathaniel George； his
fine eyes fixed on hers； seemed never to tire of drinking in her wisdom。
There were times when Janet Helvetia； to reassure herself as to the
maidenly correctness of her behaviour； had to recall quite forcibly the
fact that she was the daughter of Solomon Appleyard； owner of the big
printing establishment； and he a simple grocer。 One day； raised a little
in the social scale； thanks to her； Nathaniel George would marry
someone in his own rank of life。 Reflecting upon the future of
Nathaniel George； Janet Helvetia could not escape a shade of sadness。
It was difficult to imagine precisely the wife she would have chosen for
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Nathaniel George。 She hoped he would do nothing foolish。 Rising
young men so often marry wives that hamper rather than help them。
One Sunday morning in late autumn； they walked and talked in the
shady garden of Lincoln's Inn。 Greek they thought it was they had
been talking； as a matter of fact； a much older language。 A young
gardener was watering flowers； and as they passed him he grinned。 It
was not an offensive grin； rather a sympathetic grin； but Miss Appleyard
didn't like being grinned at。 What was there to grin at？ Her personal
appearance？ some gaucherie in her dress？ Impossible。 No lady in all
St。 Dunstan was ever more precise。 She glanced at her companion： a
clean…looking； well…groomed； well…dressed youth。 Suddenly it occurred
to Miss Appleyard that she and Grindley junior were holding each
other's hand。 Miss Appleyard was justly indignant。
〃How dare you！〃 said Miss Appleyard。 〃I am exceedingly angry with
you。 How dare you！〃
The olive skin was scarlet。 There were tears in the hazel eyes。
〃Leave me this minute！〃 commanded Miss Appleyard。
Instead of which； Grindley junior seized both her hands。
〃I love you！ I adore you！ I worship you！〃 poured forth young
Grindley； forgetful of all Miss Appleyard had ever told him concerning
the folly of tautology。
〃You had no right；〃 said Miss Appleyard。
〃I couldn't help it；〃 pleaded young Grindley。 〃And that isn't the
worst。〃
Miss Appleyard paled visibly。 For a grocer's assistant to dare to fall
in love with her； especially after all the trouble she had taken with him！
What could be worse？
〃I'm not a grocer；〃 continued young Grindley； deeply conscious of
crime。 〃I mean； not a real grocer。〃
And Grindley junior then and there made a clean breast of the whole
sad； terrible tale of shameless deceit； practised by the greatest villain the
world had ever produced； upon the noblest and most beautiful maiden
that ever turned grim London town into a fairy city of e
