sanditon(桑底顿)-第17节
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know Wine would disagree with me； but it always does me good。—
The more Wine I drink （in Moderation） the better I am。—I am
always best of an Evening。—If you had seen me to…day before
Dinner； you would have thought me a very poor Creature。’
Charlotte could believe it。 She kept her countenance however； and
said—‘As far as I can understand what nervous complaints are； I
have a great idea of the efficacy of air and exercise for them：—
daily； regular Exercise；—and I should recommend rather more of
it to you than I suspect you are in the habit of taking。’—‘Oh！ I am
very fond of exercise myself’—he replied—‘and mean to walk a
great deal while I am here； if the Weather is temperate。 I shall be
out every morning before breakfast—and take several turns upon
the Terrace； and you will often see me at Trafalgar House。’—‘But
you do not call a walk to Trafalgar House much exercise？’ ‘Not； as
to mere distance； but the Hill is so steep！—Walking up that Hill； in
the middle of the day； would throw me into such a Perspiration！—
You would see me all in a Bath by the time I got there！—I am very
subject to Perspiration； and there cannot be a surer sign of
Nervousness。’ They were now advancing so deep in Physics； that
Charlotte viewed the entrance of the Servant with the Tea things；
as a very fortunate Interruption。—It produced a great and
immediate change。 The young Man’s attentions were instantly
lost。 He took his own Cocoa from the Tray；—which seemed
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provided with almost as many Teapots &c as there were persons
in company； Miss P。 drinking one sort of Herb…Tea and Miss Diana
another； and turning completely to the Fire； sat coddling and
cooking it to his own satisfaction and toasting some Slices of
Bread； brought up ready…prepared in the Toast rack—and till it
was all done； she heard nothing of his voice but the murmuring of
a few broken sentences of self…approbation and success。—When
his Toils were over however； he moved back his Chair into as
gallant a Line as ever； and proved that he had not been working
only for himself； by his earnest invitation to her to take both Cocoa
and Toast。—She was already helped to Tea—which surprised
him—so totally self…engrossed had he been。—‘I thought I should
have been in time；’ said he； ‘but cocoa takes a great deal of
Boiling。’—‘I am much obliged to you；’ replied Charlotte—‘but I
prefer Tea。’ ‘Then I will help myself；’ said he。—‘A large Dish of
rather weak Cocoa every evening； agrees with me better than any
thing。’—It struck her however； as he poured out this rather weak
Cocoa； that it came forth in a very fine； dark coloured stream—and
at the same moment； his Sisters both crying out—‘Oh！ Arthur； you
get your Cocoa stronger and stronger every Evening’； with
Arthur’s somewhat conscious reply of ‘Tis rather stronger than it
should be tonight’—convinced her that Arthur was by no means so
fond of being starved as they could desire； or as he felt proper
himself。—He was certainly very happy to turn the conversation on
dry Toast； and hear no more of his sisters。—‘I hope you will eat
some of this Toast；’ said he； ‘I reckon myself a very good Toaster； I
never burn my Toasts—I never put them too near the Fire at
first—and yet； you see； there is not a Corner but what is well
browned。—I hope you like dry Toast。’—‘With a reasonable
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quantity of Butter spread over it； very much’—said Charlotte—
‘but not otherwise。’ ‘No more do I’—said he exceedingly pleased—
‘We think quite alike there。—So far from dry Toast being
wholesome； I think it a very bad thing for the Stomach。 Without a
little butter to soften it； it hurts the Coats of the Stomach I am sure
it does。—I will have the pleasure of spreading some for you
directly—and afterwards I will spread some for myself。—Very bad
indeed for the Coats of the Stomach—but there is no convincing
some people。—It irritates and acts like a nutmeg grater。’ He could
not get command of the Butter however； without a struggle； His
Sisters accusing him of eating a great deal too much； and
declaring he was not to be trusted；—and he maintaining that he
only eat enough to secure the Coats of his Stomach；—and besides；
he only wanted it now for Miss Heywood。—Such a plea must
prevail； he got the butter and spread away for her with an
accuracy of Judgement which at least delighted himself； but when
her Toast was done； and he took his own in hand； Charlotte could
hardly contain herself as she saw him watching his sisters； while
he scrupulously scraped off almost as much butter as he put on；
and then seize an odd moment for adding a great dab just before it
went into his Mouth。—Certainly； Mr。 Arthur P。’s enjoyments in
Invalidism were very different from his sisters—by no means so
spiritualized。—A good deal of Earthy Dross hung about him。
Charlotte could not but suspect him of adopting that line of Life；
principally for the indulgence of an indolent Temper—and to be
determined on having no Disorders but such as called for warm
rooms and good Nourishment。—In one particular however； she
soon found that he had caught something from them。—‘What！’ said
he—‘Do you venture upon two dishes of strong Green Tea in one
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Evening？—What Nerves you must have！—How I envy you。—Now；
if I were to swallow only one such dish—what do you think it’s
effect would be upon me？’ ‘Keep you awake perhaps all night’—
replied Charlotte； meaning to overthrow his attempts at Surprise；
by the Grandeur of her own Conceptions。—‘Oh！ if that were all！’—
he exclaimed。—‘No—it acts on me like Poison and would entirely
take away the use of my right side； before I had swallowed it five
minutes。—It sounds almost incredible—but it has happened to me
so often that I cannot doubt it。—The use of my right Side is
entirely taken away for several hours！’ ‘It sounds rather odd to be
sure’—answered Charlotte coolly—‘but I dare say it would be
proved to be the simplest thing in the World； by those who have
studied right sides and Green Tea scientifically and thoroughly
understand all the possibilities of their action on each other。’—
Soon after Tea； a Letter was brought to Miss D。 P。 from the
Hotel。—‘From Mrs。 Charles Dupuis’—said she；—‘some private
hand。’—And having read a few lines； exclaimed aloud ‘Well； this is
very extraordinary！ very extraordinary indeed！—That both should
have the same name。—Two Mrs。 Griffiths！—This is a Letter of
recommendation and introduction to me； of the Lady from
Camberwell—and her name happens to be Griffiths too。’ A few
lines more however； and the colour rushed into her Cheeks； and
with much Perturbation she added—‘The oddest thing that ever
was！—a Miss Lambe too！—a young West…indian of large
Fortune。—But it cannot be the same。—Impossible that it should be
the same。—She read the Letter aloud for comfort。—It was merely
to ‘introduce the Bearer； Mrs。 G。— from Camberwell； and the
three young Ladies under her care； to Miss D。 P。
