the golden age(金色时代)-第27节
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be no drawing back from the bargain; and then; as the things had to be
taken out of the window and packed; and the afternoon was yet young; he
thought he might treat himself to a taste of urban joys and la vie de
Boheme。 Shops came first; of course; and he flattened his nose
successively against the window with the india…rubber balls in it; and the
clock…work locomotive; and against the barber's window; with wigs on
blocks; reminding him of uncles; and shaving…cream that looked so good
to eat; and the grocer's window; displaying more currants than the whole
British population could possibly consume without a special effort; and
the window of the bank; wherein gold was thought so little of that it was
dealt about in shovels。 Next there was the market… place; with all its
clamorous joys; and when a runaway calf came down the street like a
cannon…ball; Harold felt that he had not lived in vain。 The whole place
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was so brimful of excitement that he had quite forgotten the why and the
wherefore of his being there; when a sight of the church clock recalled him
to his better self; and sent him flying out of the town; as he realised he had
only just time enough left to get back in。 If he were after his appointed
hour; he would not only miss his high triumph; but probably would be
detected as a transgressor of bounds;a crime before which a private
opinion on multiplication sank to nothingness。 So he jogged along on his
homeward way; thinking of many things; and probably talking to himself a
good deal; as his habit was; and had covered nearly half the distance; when
suddenlya deadly sinking in the pit of his stomacha paralysis of every
limbaround him a world extinct of light and musica black sun and a
reeling skyhe had forgotten the tea… things!
It was useless; it was hopeless; all was over; and nothing could now be
done; nevertheless he turned and ran back wildly; blindly; choking with
the big sobs that evoked neither pity nor comfort from a merciless
mocking world around; a stitch in his side; dust in his eyes; and black
despair clutching at his heart。 So he stumbled on; with leaden legs and
bursting sides; tillas if Fate had not yet dealt him her last worst buffet
on turning a corner in the road he almost ran under the wheels of a dog…
cart; in which; as it pulled up; was apparent the portly form of Farmer
Larkin; the arch…enemy; whose ducks he had been shying stones at that
very morning!
Had Harold been in his right and unclouded senses; he would have
vanished through the hedge some seconds earlier; rather than pain the
farmer by any unpleasant reminiscences which his appearance might call
up; but as things were; he could only stand and blubber hopelessly; caring;
indeed; little now what further ill might befall him。 The farmer; for his
part; surveyed the desolate figure with some astonishment; calling out in
no unfriendly accents; 〃Why; Master Harold! whatever be the matter?
Baint runnin' away; be ee?〃
Then Harold; with the unnatural courage born of desperation; flung
himself on the step; and climbing into the cart; fell in the straw at the
bottom of it; sobbing out that he wanted to go back; go back! The
situation had a vagueness; but the farmer; a man of action rather than
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words; swung his horse round smartly; and they were in the town again by
the time Harold had recovered himself sufficiently to furnish some details。
As they drove up to the shop; the woman was waiting at the door with the
parcel; and hardly a minute seemed to have elapsed since the black crisis;
ere they were bowling along swiftly home; the precious parcel hugged in a
close embrace。
And now the farmer came out in quite a new and unexpected light。
Never a word did he say of broken fences and hurdles; of trampled crops
and harried flocks and herds。 One would have thought the man had
never possessed a head of live stock in his life。 Instead; he was deeply
interested in the whole dolorous quest of the tea…things; and sympathised
with Harold on the disputed point in mathematics as if he had been
himself at the same stage of education。 As they neared home; Harold
found himself; to his surprise; sitting up and chatting to his new friend like
man to man; and before he was dropped at a convenient gap in the garden
hedge; he had promised that when Selina gave her first public tea…party;
little Miss Larkin should be invited to come and bring ha whole sawdust
family along with her; and the farmer appeared as pleased and proud as if
he hat been asked to a garden…party at Marlborough House。 Really; those
Olympians have certain good points; far down in them。 I shall have to
leave off abusing them some day。
At the hour of five; Selina; having spent the afternoon searching for
Harold in all his accustomed haunts; sat down disconsolately to tea with
her dolls; who ungenerously refused to wait beyond the appointed hour。
The wooden tea…things seemed more chipped than usual; and the dolls
themselves had more of wax and sawdust; and less of human colour and
intelligence about them; than she ever remembered before。 It was then
that Harold burst in; very dusty; his stockings at his heels; and the channels
ploughed by tears still showing on his grimy cheeks; and Selina was at last
permitted to know that he had been thinking of her ever since his ill…
judged exhibition of temper; and that his sulks had not been the genuine
article; nor had he gone frogging by himself。 It was a very happy hostess
who dispensed hospitality that evening to a glassy…eyed stiff…kneed circle;
and many a dollish gaucherie; that would have been severely checked on
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ordinary occasions; was as much overlooked as if it had been a birthday。
But Harold and I; in our stupid masculine way; thought all her
happiness sprang from possession of the long…coveted tea… service。
〃LUSISTI SATIS 〃
Among the many fatuous ideas that possessed the Olympian noddle;
this one was pre…eminent; that; being Olympians; they could talk quite
freely in our presence on subjects of the closest import to us; so long as
names; dates; and other landmarks were ignored。 We were supposed to
be denied the faculty for putting two and two together; and; like the
monkeys; who very sensibly refrain from speech lest they should be set to
earn their livings; we were careful to conceal our capabilities for a simple
syllogism。 Thus we were rarely taken by surprise; and so were
considered by our disappointed elders to be apathetic and to lack the
divine capacity for wonder。
Now the daily output of the letter…bag; with the mysterious discussions
that ensued thereon; had speedily informed us that Uncle Thomas was
intrusted with a mission;a mission; too; affecting ourselves。 Uncle
Thomas's missions were many and various; a self…important man; one
liking the business while protesting that he sank under the burden; he was
the missionary; so to speak; of our remote habitation。 The matching a
ribbon; the running down to the stores; the interviewing a cook;these and
similar duties lent constant colour and variety to his vacant life in London
and helped to keep down his figure。 When the matter; however; had in
our presence to be referred to with nods and pronouns; with significant
hiatuses and interpolations in the French tongue; then the red flag was
flown; the storm…con