the man between(夹在中间的人)-第23节
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The Man Between
violets saluted as they passed。 Drowsily； as if half asleep； the blackbirds
whistled their couplets； and in the thickest hedges the little brown thrushes
sang softly to their brooding mates。 For half an hour they kept this
heavenly path； and then a sudden turn brought them their first sight of the
old home。
It was a stately； irregular building of red brick； sandaled and veiled in
ivy。 The nu… merous windows were all latticed； the chimneys in
picturesque stacks； the sloping roof made of flags of sandstone。 It stood in
the center of a large garden； at the bottom of which ran a babbling little
rivera cheerful tongue of life in the sweet； silent place。 They crossed it
by a pretty bridge； and in a few minutes stood at the great door of the
mansion。 It was wide open； and the Squire； with outstretched hands； rose
to meet them。 While yet upon the threshold he kissed both Ethel and Ruth；
and； clasping the Judge's hand； gazed at him with such a piercing； kindly
look that the eyes of both men filled with tears。
He led them into the hall； and standing there he seemed almost a part
of it。 In his youth he had been a son of Anak； and his great size had been
matched by his great strength。 His stature was still large； his face broad
and massive； and an abundance of snow…white hair emphasized the dignity
of a countenance which age had made nobler。 The generations of eight
hundred years were crystallized in this benignant old man； looking with
such eager interest into the faces of his strange kindred from a far…off land。
In the evening they sat together in the old hall talking of the Rawdons。
〃There is great family of us； living and dead；〃 said the Squire； 〃and I count
them all my friends。 Bare is the back that has no kin behind it。 That is not
our case。 Eight hundred years ago there was a Rawdon in Rawdon； and
one has never been wanting since。 Saxon； Danish； Norman； and Stuart
kings have been and gone their way； and we remain； and I can tell you
every Rawdon born since the House of Hanover came to England。 We
have had our share in all England's strife and glory； for if there was ever a
fight going on anywhere Rawdon was never far off。 Yes； we can string the
centuries together in the battle flags we have won。 See there！〃 he cried；
pointing to two standards interwoven above the central chimney…piece；
〃one was taken from the Paynim in the first Crusade； and the other my
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grandson took in Africa。 It seems but yesterday； and Queen Victoria gave
him the Cross for it。 Poor lad； he had it on when he died。 It went to the
grave with him。 I wouldn't have it touched。 I fancy the Rawdons would
know it。 No one dare say they don't。 I think they meddle a good deal more
with this life than we count on。〃
The days that followed were days in The House Wonderful。 It held the
treasure…trove of centuries； all its rooms were full of secrets。 Even the
common sitting…room had an antique homeliness that provoked questions
as to the dates of its furniture and the whereabouts of its wall cupboards
and hidden recesses。 Its china had the marks of forgotten makers； its silver
was puzzling with half… obliterated names and dates； its sideboard of oak
was black with age and full of table accessories； the very names of which
were forgotten。 For this house had not been built in the ordinary sense； it
had grown through centuries； grown out of desire and necessity； just as a
tree grows； and was therefore fit and beautiful。 And it was no wonder that
about every room floated the perfume of ancient things and the peculiar
family aura that had saturated all the inanimate objects around them。
In a few days； life settled itself to orderly occupations。 The Squire was
a late riser； the Judge and his family breakfasted very early。 Then the two
women had a ride in the park； or wandered in the garden； or sat reading； or
sewing； or writing in some of the sweet； fair rooms。 Many visitors soon
appeared； and there were calls to return and courtesies to accept。 Among
these visitors the Tyrrel… Rawdons were the earliest。 The representatives of
that family were Nicholas Rawdon and his wife Lydia。 Nicholas Rawdon
was a large； stout man； very arrogant； very complete； very alert for this
world； and not caring much about the other。 He was not pleased at Judge
Rawdon's visit； but thought it best to be cousinly until his cousin interfered
with his plans〃rights〃 he called them〃and then！〃 and his 〃THEN〃
implied a great deal； for Nicholas Rawdon was a man incapable of
conceiving the idea of loving an enemy。
His wife was a pleasant； garrulous woman； who interested Ethel very
much。 Her family was her chief topic of conversation。 She had two
daughters； one of whom had married a baronet； 〃a man with money and
easy to manage〃； and the other； 〃a rich cotton lord in Manchester。〃
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〃They haven't done badly；〃 she said confidentially； 〃and it's a great
thing to get girls off your hands early。 Adelaide and Martha were well
educated and suitable； but； 〃she added with a glow of pride； 〃you should
see my John Thomas。 He's manager of the mill； and he loves the mill； and
he knows every pound of warp or weft that comes in or goes out of the
mill； and what his father would do without him； I'm sure I don't know。 And
he is a member of Parliament； tooRadical ticket。 Won over Mostyn。
Wiped Mostyn out pretty well。 That was a thing to do； wasn't it？〃
〃I suppose Mr。 Mostyn was the Conservative candidate？〃
〃You may be sure of that。 But my John Thomas doesn't blame him for
itthe gentry have to be Conservatives。 John Thomas said little against his
politics； he just set the crowd laughing at his wayshis dandified ways。
And he tried to wear one eyeglass； and let it fall； and fall； and then told the
men ‘he couldn't manage half a pair of spectacles； but he could manage
their interests and fight for their rights；' and such like talk。 And he walked
like Mostyn； and he talked like Mostyn； and spread out his legs； and
twirled his walking stick like Mostyn； and asked them ‘if they would wish
him to go to Parliament in that kind of a shape； as he'd try and do it if they
wanted a tailor…made man'； and they laughed him down； and then he spoke
reasonable to them。 John Thomas knows what Yorkshire weavers want；
and he just prom… ised them everything they had set their hearts on； and so
they sent him to Parliament； and Mostyn went to America； where； perhaps；
they'll teach him that a man's life is worth a bit more than a bird or a rabbit。
Mostyn is all for preserving game； and his father was a mean creature。
When one thinks of his father； one has to excuse the young man a little
bit。〃
〃I saw a good deal of Mr。 Mostyn in New York；〃 said Ethel。 〃He used
to speak highly of his father。〃
〃I'll warrant he did； and he ought to keep at it； for he's the only one in
this world that will use his tongue for that end。 Old Samuel Mostyn never
learned to live godly or even manly； but after his death he ceased to do evil；
and that； I've no doubt； often feels like a blessing to them that had to live
anyway near to him。 But my John Thomas！〃
〃Oh；〃 cried Ethel； laughing； 〃you must not tell me so much about John
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Thomas； he might not like it。〃
〃John Thomas can look all he does and all he says straight in the face。
You may talk of him all day； and find nothing to say that a good girl like
you might not listen to。 I should have brought him with us； but he's away
now taking a bit of a holiday。 I'm sure he needs it。〃
〃Where is he taking his holiday？〃
〃Why； he went with a cousin to show him the sights of London； but
somehow they got through London sights very quick； and thought they
might as well put Paris in。 I wish they hadn't。 I don't trust foreigners and
foreign ways； and they don't have the same
