the golden age(金色时代)-第24节
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explanations； and other court…chamberlain kind of business； being my
special aversion。 There was much of the tempestuous March weather in
the hearts of both of us； as we sullenly glowered along the carriage…
windows of the slackening train。
One is apt； however； to misjudge the special difficulties of a situation；
and the reception proved； after all； an easy and informal matter。 In a
trainful so uniformly bucolic； a tutor was readily recognisable； and his
portmanteau had been consigned to the luggage…cart； and his person
conveyed into the lane； before I had discharged one of my carefully
considered sentences。 I breathed more easily； and； looking up at our new
friend as we stepped out together； remembered that we had been counting
on something altogether more arid； scholastic； and severe。 A boyish
eager face and a petulant pince…nez；untidy hair；a head of constant quick
turns like a robin's； and a voice that kept breaking into alto；these were all
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very strange and new； but not in the least terrible。
He proceeded jerkily through the village； with glances on this side and
that； and 〃Charming；〃 he broke out presently； 〃quite too charming and
delightful！〃
I had not counted on this sort of thing； and glanced for help to Edward；
who； hands in pockets； looked grimly down his nose。 He had taken his
line； and meant to stick to it。
Meantime our friend had made an imaginary spy…glass out of his fist；
and was squinting through it at something I could not perceive。 〃What
an exquisite bit！〃 he burst out； 〃fifteenth century；no；yes； it is！〃
I began to feel puzzled； not to say alarmed。 It reminded me of the
butcher in the Arabian Nights； whose common joints； displayed on the
shop…front； took to a startled public the appearance of dismembered
humanity。 This man seemed to see the strangest things in our dull；
familiar surroundings。
〃Ah！〃 he broke out again； as we jogged on between hedgerows： 〃and
that field nowbacked by the downswith the rain…cloud brooding over
it；that's all David Coxevery bit of it！〃
〃That field belongs to Farmer Larkin；〃 I explained politely； for of
course he could not be expected to know。 〃I'll take you over to Farmer
Cox's to…morrow； if he's a friend of yours； but there's nothing to see there。〃
Edward； who was hanging sullenly behind； made a face at me； as if to
say； 〃What sort of lunatic have we got here？〃
〃It has the true pastoral character； this country of yours；〃 went on our
enthusiast： 〃with just that added touch in cottage and farmstead； relics of a
bygone art； which makes our English landscape so divine； so unique！〃
Really this grasshopper was becoming a burden。 These familiar
fields and farms； of which we knew every blade and stick； had done
nothing that I knew of to be bespattered with adjectives in this way。 I
had never thought of them as divine； unique； or anything else。 They
werewell； they were just themselves； and there was an end of it。
Despairingly I jogged Edward in the ribs； as a sign to start rational
conversation； but he only grinned and continued obdurate。
〃You can see the house now；〃 I remarked； presently； 〃and that's Selina；
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chasing the donkey in the paddock；or is it the donkey chasing Selina？ I
can't quite make out； but it's THEM； anyhow。〃
Needless to say； he exploded with a full charge of adjectives。
〃Exquisite！〃 he rapped out； 〃so mellow and harmonious！ and so entirely in
keeping！〃 （I could see from Edward's face that he was thinking who
ought to be in keeping。） 〃Such possibilities of romance； now； in those
old gables！〃
〃If you mean the garrets；〃 I said； 〃there's a lot of old furniture in them；
and one is generally full of apples； and the bats get in sometimes； under
the eaves； and flop about till we go up with hair…brushes and things and
drive 'em out； but there's nothing else in them that I know of。〃
〃Oh； but there must be more than bats；〃 he cried。 〃Don't tell me there
are no ghosts。 I shall be deeply disappointed if there aren't any ghosts。〃
I did not think it worth while to reply； feeling really unequal to this
sort of conversation； besides； we were nearing the house； when my task
would be ended。 Aunt Eliza met us at the door； and in the cross…fire of
adjectives that ensuedboth of them talking at once； as grown…up folk
have a habit of doingwe two slipped round to the back of the house； and
speedily put several solid acres between us and civilisation； for fear of
being ordered in to tea in the drawing…room。 By the time we returned；
our new importation had gone up to dress for dinner； so till the morrow at
least we were free of him。
Meanwhile the March wind； after dropping a while at sundown； had
been steadily increasing in volume； and although I fell asleep at my usual
hour； about midnight I was wakened by the stress and cry of it。 In the
bright moonlight； wind…swung branches tossed and swayed eerily across
the blinds； there was rumbling in chimneys； whistling in keyholes； and
everywhere a clamour and a call。 Sleep was out of the question； and；
sitting up in bed； I looked round。 Edward sat up too。 〃I was wondering
when you were going to wake；〃 he said。 〃It's no good trying to sleep
through this。 I vote we get up and do something。〃
〃I'm game；〃 I replied。 〃Let's play at being in a ship at sea〃 （the plaint
of the old house under the buffeting wind suggested this； naturally）； 〃and
we can be wrecked on an island； or left on a raft； whichever you choose；
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but I like an island best myself； because there's more things on it。〃
Edward on reflection negatived the idea。 〃It would make too much
noise；〃 he pointed out。 〃There's no fun playing at ships； unless you can
make a jolly good row。〃
The door creaked； and a small figure in white slipped cautiously in。
〃Thought I heard you talking；〃 said Charlotte。 〃We don't like it； we're
afraidSelina too。 She'll be here in a minute。 She's putting on her new
dressing…gown she's so proud of。〃 His arms round his knees； Edward
cogitated deeply until Selina appeared； barefooted； and looking slim and
tall in the new dressing…gown。 Then； 〃Look here；〃 he exclaimed； 〃now
we're all together； I vote we go and explore！〃
〃You're always wanting to explore；〃 I said。 〃What on earth is there to
explore for in this house？〃
〃Biscuits！〃 said the inspired Edward。
〃Hooray！ Come on！〃 chimed in Harold； sitting up suddenly。 He
had been awake all the time； but had been shamming asleep； lest he should
be fagged to do anything。
It was indeed a fact； as Edward had remembered； that our thoughtless
elders occasionally left the biscuits out； a prize for the night…walking
adventurer with nerves of steel。
Edward tumbled out of bed； and pulled a baggy old pair of
knickerbockers over his bare shanks。 Then he girt himself with a belt；
into which he thrust； on the one side a large wooden pistol； on the other an
old single…stick； and finally he donned a big slouch…hatonce an uncle's
that we used for playing Guy Fawkes and Charles…the…Second…up…a…tree in。
Whatever the audience； Edward； if possible； always dressed for his parts
with care and conscientiousness； while Harold and I； true Elizabethans；
cared little about the mounting of the piece； so long as the real dramatic
heart of it beat sound。
Our commande
