poor miss finch-第32节

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the　supreme　excellence　of　Shakespeare's　poetry　from　the　rector's
readings；　and　I　attribute　to　the　same　exasperating　cause　my　implacable
hostility　（on　every　question　of　the　time）　to　the　policy　of　Mr。　Burke。　On
the　evening　when　Nugent　Dubourg　was　expected　at　Browndownand　when　we
particularly　wanted　to　be　left　alone　to　dress　ourselves；　and　to　gossip　by
anticipation　about　the　expected　visitorMr。　Finch　was　seized　with　one　of
his　periodical　rages　for　firing　off　words　at　his　family；　after　tea。　He
selected　_Hamlet_　as　the　medium　for　exhibiting　his　voice；　on　this
occasion；　and　he　declared；　as　the　principal　motive　for　taking　his
elocutionary　exercise；　that　the　object　he　especially　had　in　view　was　the
benefit　of　poor　Me！

〃My　good　creature；　I　accidentally　heard　you　reading　to　Lucilla；　the　other
day。　It　was　very　nice；　as　far　as　it　wentvery　nice　indeed。　But　you　will
allow　meas　a　person；　Madame　Pratolungo；　possessing　considerable
practice　in　the　art　of　reading　aloudto　observe　that　you　might　be
benefited　by　a　hint　or　two。　I　will　give　you　a　few　ideas。　（Mrs。　Finch！　I
propose　giving　Madame　Pratolungo　a　few　ideas。）　Pay　particular　attention；
if　you　please；　to　the　Pauses；　and　to　the　management　of　the　Voice　at　the
end　of　the　lines。　Lucilla；　my　child；　you　are　interested　in　this。　The
perfecting　of　Madame　Pratolungo　is　a　matter　of　considerable　importance　to
_you。_　Don't　go　away。〃

Lucilla　and　I　happened；　on　that　evening；　to　be　guests　at　the　rectory
table。　It　was　one　of　the　regular　occasions　on　which　we　left　our　own　side
of　the　house；　and　joined　the　family　at　（what　Mr。　Finch　called）　〃the
pastor's　evening　meal。〃　He　had　got　his　wife；　he　had　got　his　eldest
daughter；　he　had　got　your　humble　servant。　A　horrid　smile　of　enjoyment
overspread　the　reverend　gentleman's　face；　as　he　surveyed　us　from　the
opposite　end　of　the　room；　and　opened　his　vocal　fire　on　his　audience　of
three。

〃_Hamlet：_　Act　the　First；　Scene　the　First。　Elsinore。　A　Platform　before
the　Castle。　Francisco　on　his　post〃　（Mr。　Finch）。　〃Enter　to　him　Bernardo〃
（Mr。　Finch）。　〃Who's　there？〃　〃Nay；　answer　me：　stand；　and　unfold　yourself。〃
（Mrs。　Finch　unfolds　herselfshe　suckles　the　baby；　and　tries　to　look　as
if　she　was　having　an　intellectual　treat。）　〃Francisco　and　Bernardo
converse　in　bassBoom…boom…boom。　Enter　Horatio　and　Marcellus〃　（Mr。　Finch
and　Mr。　Finch。）　〃Stand！　Who's　there？〃　〃Friends　to　this　ground。〃　〃And
liegemen　to　the　Dane。〃　（Madame　Pratolungo　begins　to　feel　the　elocutionary
exposition　of　Shakespeare；　where　she　always　feels　it；　in　her　legs。　She
tries　to　sit　still　on　her　chair。　Useless！　She　is　suffering　under　the
malady　known　to　her　by　bitter　experience　of　Mr。　Finch；　as　the
Hamlet…Fidgets。）　Bernardo　and　Franciso；　Horatio　and　Marcellus；
converseBoom…boom…boom。　〃Enter　Ghost　of　Hamlet's　Father。〃　Mr。　Finch
makes　an　awful　pause。　In　the　supernatural　silence；　we　can　hear　the　baby
sucking。　Mrs。　Finch　enjoys　her　intellectual　treat。　Madame　Pratolungo
fidgets。　Lucilla　catches　the　infection；　and　fidgets　too。　Marcellus…Finch
goes　on。　〃Thou　art　a　scholar；　speak　to　it；　Horatio。〃　Bernardo…Finch　backs
him：　〃Looks　it　not　like　the　King？　Mark　it；　Horatio。〃　Lucilla…Finch
inserts　herself　in　the　dialogue：　〃Papa；　I　am　very　sorry；　I　have　had　a
nervous　headache　all　day；　please　excuse　me　if　I　take　a　turn　in　the
garden。〃　The　rector　makes　another　awful　pause；　and　glares　at　his
daughter。　（Exit　Lucilla。）　Horatio　looks　at　the　Ghost；　and　takes　up　the
dialogue：　〃Most　like；　it　harrows　me　〃Boom…boom…boom。　The　baby　is
satiated。　Mrs。　Finch　wants　her　handkerchief。　Madame　Pratolungo　seizes　the
opportunity　of　moving　her　distracted　legs；　and　finds　the　handkerchief。
Mr。　Finch　pausesglares…goes　on　againreaches　the　second　scene。
〃Enter　the　King；　Queen；　Hamlet；　Polonius；　Laertes；　Voltimand；　Cornelius；
and　Lords　Attendant。〃　All　Mr。　Finch！　oh；　my　legs！　my　legs！　all　Mr。　Finch；
and　Boom…boom…boom。　Third　scene。　〃Enter　Laertes　and　Ophelia。〃　（Both
Rectors　of　Dimchurch；　both　with　deep　bass　voices；　both　about　five　feet
high；　pitted　with　the　small…pox；　and　adorned　round　the　neck　with　dingy
white　cravats。）　Mr。　Finch　goes　on　and　on　and　on。　Mrs。　Finch　and　the　baby
simultaneously　close　their　eyes　in　slumber。　Madame　Pratolungo　suffers
such　tortures　of　restlessness　in　her　lower　limbs；　that　she　longs　for　a
skilled　surgeon　to　take　out　his　knife　and　deliver　her　from　her　own　legs。
Mr。　Finch　advances　in　deeper　and　deeper　bass；　in　keener　and　keener
enjoyment；　to　the　Fourth　Scene。　（〃Enter　Hamlet；　Horatio；　and　Marcellus。〃）
Mercy！　what　do　I　hear？　Is　relief　approaching　to　us　from　the　world
outside？　Are　there　footsteps　in　the　hall？　Yes！　Mrs。　Finch　opens　her　eyes；
Mrs。　Finch　hears　the　footsteps；　and　rejoices　in　them　as　I　do。　Reverend
Hamlet　hears　nothing　but　his　own　voice。　He　begins　the　scene：　〃The　air
bites　shrewdly。　It　is　very　cold。〃　The　door　opens。　The　rector　feels　a　gust
of　air；　dramatically　appropriate；　just　at　the　right　moment。　He　looks
round。　If　it　is　a　servant；　let　that　domestic　person　tremble！　Nonot　a
servant。　Guestsheavens　be　praised；　guests。　Welcome；　gentlemenwelcome！
No　more　Hamlet；　tonight；　thanks　to　You。　Enter　two　Characters　who　must　be
instantly　attended　to：Mr。　Oscar　Dubourg；　introducing　his　twin…brother
from　America；　Mr。　Nugent　Dubourg。



Astonishment　at　the　extraordinary　resemblance　between　them；　was　the　one
impression　felt　by　all　three　of　us；　as　the　brothers　entered　the　room。

Exactly　alike　in　their　height；　in　their　walk；　in　their　features；　and　in
their　voices。　Both　with　the　same　colored　hair　and　the　same　beardless
faces。　Oscar's　smile　exactly　reflected　on　Nugent's　lips。　Oscar's　odd
little　semi…foreign　tricks　of　gesticulation　with　his　hands；　exactly
reproduced　in　the　hands　of　Nugent。　And；　to　crown　it　all；　there　was　the
complexion　which　Oscar　had　lost　for　ever　（just　a　shade　darker　perhaps）
found　again　on　Nugent's　cheeks！　The　one　difference　which　made　it　possible
to　distinguish　between　them；　at　the　moment　when　they　first　appeared
together　in　the　room；　was　also　the　one　difference　which　Lucilla　was
physically　incapable　of　detectingthe　terrible　contrast　of　color　between
the　brother　who　bore　the　blue　disfigurement　of　the　drug；　and　the　brother
who　was　left　as　Nature　had　made　him。

〃Delighted　to　make　your　acquaintance；　Mrs。　FinchI　have　long　wished　for
this　pleasure。　Thank　you；　Mr。　Finch；　for　all　your　kindness　to　my　brother。
Madame　Pratolungo；　I　presume？　Permit　me　to　shake　hands。　It　is　needless　to
say；　I　have　heard　of　your　illustrious　husband。　Aha！　here's　a　baby。　Yours；
Mrs。　Finch？　Girl　or　boy；　ma'am？　A　fine　childif　a　bachelor　may　be
allowed　to　pronounce　an　opinion。　_Tweettweettweet！_〃

He　chirruped　to　the　baby；　as　if　he　had　been　a　family　man；　and　snapped　his
fingers　gaily。　Poor　Oscar's　blue　face　turned　in　silent　triumph　towards
me。　〃What　did　I　tell　you？〃　his　look　asked。　〃Did　I　not　say　Nugent
fascinated　everybody　at　first　sight？〃　Most　true。　An　irresistible　man。　So
utterly　different　in　his　manner　from　Oscarexcept　when　he　was　in
reposeand　yet　so　like　Oscar　in　other　respects；　I　can　only　describe　him
as　his　brother　completed。　He　had　the　pleasant　lively　flow　of　spirits；　the

easy　winning　gentleman…like　confidence　in　himself；　which　Oscar　wanted。
And；　then；　what　excellent　taste　he　possessed。　He　liked　children！　he
respected　the　memory　of　my　glorious　Pratolungo！In　half　a　minute　from
the　time　when　he　entered　the　room；　Nugent　Dubourg　had　won　Mrs。　Finch's
heart　and　mine。

He　turned　from　the　baby　to　Mr。　Finch；　and　pointed　to　the　open　Shakespeare
on　the　table。

〃You　were　reading　to　the　ladies？〃　he　said。　〃I　am　afraid　we　have
interrupted　you。〃


〃Don't　mention　it；〃　said　the　rector；　with　his　lofty　politeness。　〃Another
time　will　do。　It　is　a　habit　of　mine；　Mr。　Nugent；　to　read　aloud　in　my
family　circle。　As　a　clergyman　and　a　lover　of　poetry　（in　both　capacities）
I　have　long　cultivated　the　art　of　elocution〃

〃My　dear　sir；　excuse　me；　you　have　cultivated　it　all　wrong！〃

Mr。　Finch　paused；　thunderstruck。　A　man　in　his　presence　presuming　to　have
an　opinion　of　his　own！　a　man　in　the　rectory　parlor　capable　of
interrupting　the　rector　in　the　middle　of　a　sentence！　guilty　of　the　insane
audacity　of　telling　him；　as　a　readerwith　Shakespeare　open　before
themthat　he　read　wrong！

〃Oh；　we　heard　you　as　we　came　in！〃　proceeded　Nugent；　with　the　most
undiminished　confidence；　expressed　in　the　most　gentlemanlike　manner。　〃You
read　it　like　this。〃　He　took　up　_Hamlet_　and　read　the　opening　line　of　the
Fourth　Scene；　（〃The　air　bites　shrewdly。　It　is　very　cold〃）　with　an
irresistibly…accurate　imitation　of　Mr。　Finch。　〃That's　nor　the　way　Hamlet
would　speak。　No　man　in　his　position　would　remark　that　it　was　very　cold　in
that　bow…wow　manner。　What　is　Shakespeare　before　all　things？　True　to
nature；　always　true　to　nature。　What　condition　is　Hamlet　in　when　he　is
expecting　to　see　the　Ghost？　He　is　nervous；　and　he　feels　the　cold。　Let　him
show　it　naturally；　let　him　speak　as　any　other　man　would　speak；　under　the
circumstances。　Look　here！　Quick　and　quietlike　this。　'The　air　bites
shrewdly'there　Hamlet　stops　and　shiverspur…rer…rer！　'it　is　very
cold。'　That's　the　way　to　read　Shakespeare！〃

Mr。　Finch　lifted　his　head　into　the　air　as　high　as　it　could　possibly　go；
and　brought　the　flat　of　his　hand　down　with　a　sol