【英文文学】The Land of Joy.docx

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1、【英文文学】The Land of JoyCHAPTER IJohn North unlocked the door and threw it open. The study was in semi-darkness and filled with the accumulated heat and fust of the summer. Ghostlike objects took shape before him and resolved themselves into chairs and couches and tables draped with sheets or, as in th

2、e case of the low book-shelves, hidden beneath yellowing folds of newspapers. The windows were closed and the shades drawn. At the side casements the afternoon sunlight made hot, buff oblongs on the curtains.He crossed the room impatiently, overturning on the way a waste-basket and sending its conte

3、ntsold books, battered golf-balls, brass curtain-rings, a broken meerschaum pipe, crumpled letters and invitations dating back to class dayrolling over the rug and beneath the big table. With mutterings of disgust he sent the front windows crashing upward, letting in a rush of fresher air, moist fro

4、m4 the newly sprinkled pavement below. At the side casements, however, he drew down the shades again, for Dunster Street was as full of heat and glare as an Arizona ca?on.Laying aside coat and vest, he stretched his arms luxuriously, and, thrusting big, brown hands into trousers pockets, looked disc

5、onsolately from a window. Cambridge was sweltering. Although it was late September summer had returned in the night, unexpected and unwelcome, and had wrapped the city in a smothering blanket of heat and humidity. The square was a broad desert of arid, shimmering, sun-smitten pavement that radiated

6、heat like the bed-plate of a furnace. The trees across the way looked wilted, dusty and discouraged. The Yard, which he could glimpse here and there around the corners of the buildings, appeared cool and inviting, but instead of bringing comfort, only increased his longing for the breezy Adirondack

7、lake which he had left the day before. The cumbersome crimson cars buzzed to and fro with much clanging of bell and gong, interspersed with impatient shrillings from the whistle of the starter in front of the waiting station. From the outbound cars men with suit cases slid dejectedly to the5 pavemen

8、t and wandered away toward all points of the compass, seeking their rooms. College would begin again on the morrow.Johns thoughts went back to the day three years before when from this very window he had watched, as he was watching now, the scene beneath. Then he had been filled with the keenest int

9、erest, even excitement; had been impatient for the morrow and the real commencement of his college life. His mind had been charged with thoughts of the great things he was going to do. Well, that had been three years ago, he reflected; to-day his thoughts were somewhat soberer. In the three years he

10、 had seen many illusions fade and had stored by a certain amount of practical common sense. As for the great things, some few of them had come to pass; unfortunately, seen in retrospect they were shrunken out of all similitude to the glorious subjects of his early dreams.It must not be thought, howe

11、ver, that disillusionment had soured him. At twenty-four, given a sane mind and a healthy body, one can bear with equanimity more disenchantment than had fallen to the lot of John North. And John, being the possessor of twenty-four years, sanity and health,6 dismissed memories of the olden visions w

12、ith a sigh, shrugged his very broad shoulders and looked about for a pipe.It was necessary to uncover most of the furniture before the pipe was found. And then he remembered that his tobacco pouch was in his kit-bag, that his kit-bag was outside the door, and that the door was twenty feet away. So a

13、fter a moment of hesitation he stuck the empty pipe between his teeth and returned to his contemplation of the world outside.“I wish Davy would come,” he muttered.A tall youth in a torn straw hat encircled by a faded orange-and-black ribbon came out of the hardware store beneath and started hurriedl

14、y across the square. John leaned out over the sill.“Ay-y-y-y, Larry!” he called.The other turned and retraced his steps.“Hello, Johnnie! Whend you get back?”“Half-hour ago. Come up.”“Cant.” Laurence Baker removed the straw hat and, holding it by its broken rim, fanned his perspiring face. “Im fright

15、fully busy. My kid brothers come up from Exeter and Im helping him fix his room; hes got a joint in Thayer. Ive been7 running errands for the little brute all day. Its carpet tacks this time, and a roll of picture wire.” He held up his purchases wearily for the others inspection. John grinned.“Poor

16、old Larry!” he said, sympathetically. “Youll have to settle down now and behave yourself; younger brothers, especially Freshies, are the very deuce for looking after you.”“You talk as though you had slathers of em,” retorted Larry.“No, thank heaven, Im no ones guardian. But I know whats in store for

17、 you, poor devil! By the way, Ive got a couple of seats for the Hollis Street to-night; will you?”Larry shook his head disconsolately.“Wish I could, buterI promised Chester Id take him to call on some folks in town.” John grinned again.“Well, dont let me interfere with your duties, Larry,” he said,

18、shaking his head gravely.“Shut up! Has Davy got back?”“No; the beggar wrote me that he was coming to-day, but he hasnt shown up. I daresay hes fallen asleep and gone on to Watertown or Waverly, or some other of those places you read about.”8“Wouldnt be a bit surprised,” laughed the other. “Whens the

19、 table going to start?”“Oh, Monday, I guess. Im going around there for dinner to-night. Coming?”“Dont think so. Well probably eat in town. Cant you come along?”“Maybe; if Davy doesnt show up meanwhile.”“All right; meet us at the Touraine at seven. If youre not there by a quarter after”“Dont wait. It

20、ll mean that Davy has woke up in time to get back here. So long, Larry.”The other waved the package in his hand, replaced his hat and hurried across the street, finally disappearing around the corner of Grays. John looked after him with a broad smile.“Fancy Larry in the r?le of mentor to the young!

21、Well”He stretched his arms over his head again, turned and surveyed the room. Recollecting his bag, he went to the door for it and returning caught sight of several letters on the floor. He gathered them up and went back to the window. Two of them proved to be circulars, one was a bill, a third was

22、a note from the head football coach asking John to call on him, and the fourth bore the inscription,9“Return after five days to Corliss & Groom, Washington, D. C.”Johns face betrayed curiosity as he opened this. Leaning against the casement he read it through. Curiosity gave place to surprise, surpr

23、ise to alarm, alarm to consternation. He sucked hard at the empty pipe, stared blankly into the street and reread the letter. The writer was an old friend of his father and, to a lesser degree, of himself; a Harvard graduate of some twenty years ago, and now a successful lawyer in Washington. The po

24、rtions of the letter responsible for Johns changes of expression were these:“. And so I felt certain that in promising your services to the extent indicated I was not overstepping the bounds of friendship. The family were deeply grateful; in fact, I am not sure that at the last Mrs. Ryerson would ha

25、ve consented to allow Phillip to go to Cambridge had it not been for the promise I made in your behalf. Do not imagine that the boy is deficient in sense; but, naturally enough, his mother hated to have him leave her for so long just at present. The father died in January last. Phillip has always ma

26、nifested ability to get his share of things; he does not, I think, err on the10 side of timidity; in fact, such slight troubles as have molested him thus far have been due to a certain inherited love of daring. His father, my lifelong friend, was the embodiment of honour and fearlessness; but his co

27、urage, unfortunately, was of the reckless sort, and was, indirectly at least, accountable for his death. The quarrel, as I have said, was of a most trifling nature and should never have become subject for a duel. But Phillipthe present Phils father, you understandwas but thirty at the time and as fi

28、nicky of his honour as a Crusader. The wound which he received never entirely healed and last winter brought on the illness which caused his death.“. But I will write no more of the boys character. Were you a Virginian I should simply say He is a Loudoun County Ryerson, and you would understand. How

29、ever, you will see for yourself, for I am accepting it as settled that you will look him up and be of such service as you can if only for our friendships sake. I fear the boy will have rather a hard row to hoe at first. He has always had everything in reason that he has desired, though I believe his

30、 demands have never been exorbitant. It was a surprise to the family when11 the condition of affairs was revealed after Phillips death. I, however, who was in his confidence, knew all along how things were going. He was never overfond of the humdrum, stay-at-home life of the planter, and the mystery

31、 is how he managed to keep possession of his property as long as he did. Elaine is a fine place of some sixteen hundred acres, and there is no doubt but that after the bulk of it is disposed of the family will be in very comfortable circumstances.“Mrs. Ryerson has been in poor health for many years,

32、 and she is naturally averse to selling any of the estate while she lives. Margaret, however, who possesses far more practicality than a Ryerson has any right to, has taken the conduct of affairs into her own hands, and I have instructions to sell Elaine at the first opportunity. The residence and h

33、ome farmabout one hundred acres in allare exempted. The fact that the place is to be disposed of is being kept from Phil, so you had best not mention it. He has been told only enough of the true state of affairs to prevent him from running into extravagances. It is the desire of his mother and siste

34、r that he shall not be hampered by monetary troubles more than absolutely necessary.12“. I have written at greater length than was perhaps necessary. But I want you to take an interest in the boy. I have a feeling that you will be of great service to him. I imagine that college life is much what it

35、was twenty years ago, and my own experience tells me that the friendship of an older and more thoughtful man is of immense value to a freshman.“. Phillip is careless, perhaps high-spirited, and after the free and unconstrained life he has led at home, college life will, I fear, seem narrow and irkso

36、me. Every youngster must have his fling, but there are different ways of flinging. And its there that you can be of use to Phil and make me your debtor. Hes a good deal like a two-year-old turned out to pasture where the fences arent strong; its dollars to dimes hell try to break through into the ne

37、xt field. But a mild hand on the halter now and then may save him a broken shank or a bad wire-cut. And, by the way, John, if he should get damaged over the fences Im the one to inform, not the family.“I am sorry to learn that your fathers health remains poor. I had a letter from him in July, I thin

38、k, written at Guernsey. I had hoped that his13 travels would benefit him. It must be very hard on your mother. My kindest regards to both when next you write. Pray remember that the latchstring is always outside when you get within striking distance of Washington. My wife asks to be remembered to yo

39、u, and says that the south room, with the view that you liked so much, is still vacant and always at your service. Let me hear from you in answer to this tiresome letter, and meanwhile accept my thanks for what I have pledged you to do.“Gratefully yours,“George Herman Corliss.”After the second readi

40、ng John let fall the letter and stared perplexedly out across the square. Gradually a smile crept over his face, and finally he chuckled ruefully.“Great Scott!” he muttered. “And I was horseing Larry about his kid brother! Why, hang it, his job is a sinecure compared with mine. If a brother doesnt b

41、ehave himself all you have to do is to break his silly little head. But here am I saddled with the responsibility of an absolute stranger, a chap whose name I never even heard until to-day! I cant punch his nose if he misbehaves;14 he would probably resent it, coming from an entire stranger; all I c

42、an do is to politely request him to be good. And meanwhile his family and Corliss will be quite satisfied that the precious youth is being gently but firmly conducted along the path of virtue and sobriety and wont give a thought to the difficulties of the situation.“And ifwhats the young idiots name

43、?if Phillip should blow up Massachusetts with a cannon-cracker some dark night, or assault a proctor, my reputations blasted. I shall lose my position and be held up to disgrace forevermore. Im not certain that the Virginia legislature wouldnt pass a law making the mention of my name a misdemeanor.

44、And Corliss would tell Mrs. Corliss that he was disappointed in meconfound his cheek! And MargaretI wonder, now, what Margarets like? Corliss says shes practical. Thats not promising. Nothing is more irritating than a practical woman. But maybe she isnt. Anyhow, Id be sorry to displease Margaret. An

45、d so I suppose Ill have to take over the commission.”He crossed the room to his bag and filled his pipe from a leather pouch. When it was drawing well he drew a chair up to the window and settled himself15 in it, his heels on the sill. The tobacco brought comfort.“I wish Davy was here. Hes the fines

46、t person to consult when youre in difficulties that I know. He simply smiles in his fatuous way or else scowls weirdly under the impression that hes looking wise, and goes to sleep. And youve unburdened your mind and havent reburdened it with a lot of advice that you wouldnt think of following. And

47、the present quandary will tickle Davy into a months slumber! Well, lets face it. Am I or am I not to become the guardian angel of Mr. Phillip Scott Ryerson, of Elaine, Melville Court House, County of Loudoun, State of Virginia?” He tossed the letter from him. “Why, confound it, I havent any choice!

48、Corliss pledges me first and asks my consent afterward! We have apple pie; what kind of piell you have? Heaven protect us from the claims of friendship!”“But old George must be pretty well worked up over the matter to write all that rot. Youd think it was his own son he is begging me to care for! And of course Ive got to do it. He knew I would. Hes a good old idiot, is Grovel, and I suppose if hed asked me to wheel little Phillip up and down16 the avenue every day in a perambulator Id have wired him back Whatever you say, and done it.”“Seriously, though