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第40节

jeremy-第40节

小说: jeremy 字数: 每页4000字

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this was some sort of horrible disease; with which she must wrestle
alone。 Above all; she must never allow Jeremy to know anything about
it。 He was; of course; sublimely unaware of the matter; he knew that
Mary was silly sometimes; but he attributed that to her sex; he went
on his way; happily indifferent whether anyone cared for him or
no。 。 。

Mary suffered agonies when; as sometimes happened; Jeremy sat with
his arm round Helen's neck and his cheek up against hers。 She
suffered when; in a mood of tempestuous affection to the whole
world; he kissed Miss Jones。 She even suffered when he sat at his
mother's feet whilst she read 〃The Dove in the Eagle's Nest;〃 or
〃Engel the Fearless。〃

Most of all; however; she suffered over Hamlet。 She knew that at
this present time Hamlet was the one creature for whom Jeremy
passionately cared。 He loved his mother; but with the love that
custom and habit has tamed and modified; although since Mrs。 Cole's
illness in the early summer he had cared for her in a manner more
demonstrative and openly affectionate。 Nevertheless; it was Hamlet
who commanded Jeremy's heart; and Mary knew it。 Matters were made
worse by the undoubted truth that Hamlet did not care very much for
Marythat is; he never gave any signs of caring; and very often
walked out of the room when she came into it。 Mary could have cared
for the dog as enthusiastically as Jeremyshe was always
sentimental about animalsbut now she was shut out from their
alliance; and she knew that when she came up to them and began to
pat or stroke Hamlet; Jeremy was annoyed and Hamlet's skin wriggled
in a kind of retreating fashion under her fingers。 Wise people will
say that it is impossible for this to be a serious trouble to a
child。 It was increasingly serious to Mary。

Jeremy was not; perhaps; so tactful as he might have been。 〃Oh
bother; Mary!〃 he would say。 〃You've gone and waked Hamlet up!〃 or
〃Don't stroke Hamlet that way; Mary; he hates it!〃 or 〃No; I'm going
for a walk with Hamlet; we don't want anyone!〃 Or Hamlet himself
would suddenly bark at her as though he hated her; or would bare his
teeth and grin at her in a mocking; sarcastic way that he had。 At
first; as an answer to this; she had the ridiculous idea of herself
adopting an animal; and she selected; for this purpose; the kitchen
cat; a dull; somnolent beast; whose sleek black hair was furtive;
and green; crooked eyes malignant。 The cat showed no signs of
affection for Mary; nor could she herself honestly care for it。 When
she brought it with her into the schoolroom; Hamlet treated it in a
scornful; sarcastic fashion that was worse than outrageous attack。
The cat was uncleanly; and was speedily banished back into the
kitchen。 Mary's jealousy of Hamlet then grew apace; and with that
jealousy; unfortunately; her secret appreciation of his splendours。
She could not help admitting to herself that he was the most
attractive dog in the world。 She would look at him from under her
spectacles when she was supposed to be reading and watch him as he
rolled; kicking his legs in the air; or lay stretched out; his black
wet nose against his paws; his eyes gleaming; his gaze fixed like
the point of a dagger raised to strike; upon some trophy; or enemy;
or spoil; or sat; solemn and pompous; like the Lord Mayor holding a
meeting; as Jeremy said; up against his master's leg; square and
solid as though he were cut out of wood; his peaked beard
supercilious; his very ears at a patronising angle; or; as Mary
loved best of all to see him; when he was simply childish; playing;
as though he was still a new… found puppy; with pieces of paper or
balls of string; rolling and choking; growling; purring; staggering
and tumbling。 At such times; again and again; her impulse would be
to go forward and applaud him; and then; the instinct that she would
be checked by Jeremy stayed her。

She knew very well that Jeremy realised nothing of this。 Jeremy was
not given to the consideration of other people's motiveshis own
independence saved him from anxiety about others。 He had the English
characteristic of fancying that others must like and dislike as he
himself liked and disliked。 Of sentiment he had no knowledge
whatever。

As this year grew towards summer Mary had the feeling that Jeremy
was slipping away from her。 She did not know what had happened to
him。 In the old days he had asked her opinion about many things; he
had scorned to enjoy the long stories that she had told himat any
rate; he had listened to them very politelyand he had asked her to
suggest games or to play with his toys。 Now as the summer drew near;
he did none of these things。 He was frankly impatient with her
stories; never asked her advice about anything; and never played
with her。 Was he growing very conceited? Was it because he was going
to school; and thought himself too old for his sisters? No; he did
not seem to be conceitedhe had always been proud; but never
conceited。 It was rather as though he had lately had thoughts of his
own; almost against his will; and that these had shut him off from
the people round him。

Then; when their mother was so ill and Barbara made her startling
appearance Jeremy kept more to himself。 He never talked about his
mother's illness; as did the others; and yet Mary knew that he had
been more deeply concerned than any of them。 She had been miserable;
of course; but to Jeremy it had been as though he had been led into
a new world altogether; Helen and she were still in their old
places; and Jeremy had left them。

At last just before they all moved to Cow Farm Mary made a silly
scene。 She had not intended to make a scene。 Scenes seemed to come
upon her; like evil birds; straight out of the air; to seize her
before she knew where she was; to envelop and carry her up with
them; at last; when all the mischief was done; to set her on her
feet again; battered; torn and bitterly ashamed。 One evening she was
sitting deep in 〃Charlotte Mary;〃 and Hamlet; bunched up against his
master's leg; stared at her。 She had long ago told herself that it
was ridiculous to mind what Hamlet did; that he was not looking at
her; and; in any case; he was only a; dogand so on。

But to…night she was tired; and had read so long that her head
achedHamlet was laughing at her; his eyes stared through his hair
at her; cynically; superciliously; contemptuously。 His lip curled
and his beard bristled。 Moved by a sudden wild impulse she picked up
〃The Chaplet of Pearls〃 and threw it at him。 It hit him (not very
severely); and he gave the sharp; melodramatic howl that he always
used when it was his dignity rather than his body that was hurt。
Jeremy looked up; saw what had happened; and a fine scene followed。
Mary had hysterics; stamped and screamed and howled。 Jeremy; his
face white; stood and said nothing; but looked as though he hated
her; which at that moment he undoubtedly did。 It was that look which
more than anything else in the world she dreaded。

She made herself sick with crying; then apologised with an abjection
that only irritated him the more; finally remembered the smallest
details of the affair long after he had forgotten all about it。




II


During the first weeks at Cow Farm Mary was happy。 She had then many
especial private joys; such as climbing into one of the old apple
trees behind the house and reading there; safe from the world; or
inventing for herself wonderful adventures out of the dark glooms
and sunlit spaces of the orchard; or creeping about the lofts and
barns as though they were full of the most desperate dangers and
hazards that she alone had the pluck and intelligence to overcome。
Then Mrs。 Monk was kind to her; and listened to her imaginative
chatter with a most marvellous patience。 Mary did not know that;
after these narrations; she would shake her head and say to her
husband: 〃Not long for this world; I'm thinking; poor worm。 。 。not
long for this world。〃

Then; at first Jeremy was kind and considerate。 He was so happy that
he did not mind what anyone did; and he would listen to Mary's
stories quite in the old way; whistling to himself; not thinking
about her at all perhaps; really; but very patient。 After the first
fortnight he slipped away from her againand now more than ever
before。 He went off for long walks with Hamlet; refusing to take her
with them; he answered her questions so vaguely that she could see
that he paid her no attention at all; he turned upon her and rent
her if she complained。 And it was all; she was sure; that horrible
dog。 Jeremy was always with Hamlet now。 The free life that the farm
gave them; no lessons; no set hours; no care for appearances; left
them to choose their own ways; and so developed their
individualities。 Helen was now more and more with her elders; was
becoming that invaluable thing; 〃a great help to her mother;〃 and
even; to her own inexhaustible pride; paid two calls with Mrs。 Cole
on the wives of neighbouring farmers。 Then; Barbara absorbed more
than ever of Helen's attention; and Mary was not allowed to share in
these rites and services because 〃she always made Barbara cry。〃

She was; therefore; very much alone; and felt all her i

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