【英文文学】The Sealed Valley.docx

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1、【英文文学】The Sealed ValleyI ROMANCEOne of the fairest paintings of Nature was at that point among the mountains of the Canadian province of Cariboo where the Campbell River takes the Boardman to its bosom and swings south on its pilgrimage to the Pacific. Like all of Natures more dramatic compositions,

2、 by reason of its very effectiveness, it was predestined to be smudged by a town, and the collection of shacks and tents known as Fort Edward was already begun. It was conceded that Fort Edward was bound to be a great city when the new transcontinental passed through. To be sure, railhead was still

3、beyond the mountains, a matter of two or three years construction, but the noise of the towns greatness-to-be had been industriously drummed up by real-estate operators outside, and many optimists had struggled up the three hundred miles of the Campbell Valley from the existing railway to be on hand

4、 in plenty of time.On a day in June of the year when the rush began, the settlement looked sodden and raw after much rain. The two prevailing styles of dwellings were wet A tents with projecting, rusty stovepipes and new pine shacks of a crass yellow, having roofs of tar paper studded with tin-heade

5、d tacks as big as half dollars. A single two-story building loomed up in the middle like a packing-case among soap-boxes. This was the Fort Edward Hotel, better known as Maroneys. The other habitations reached out on either hand in an irregular double row.The space within the double row was going to

6、 be the main artery of traffic some day, but where the optimists (and the real-estate operators) fondly foresaw automobiles and trolley cars rolling up and down, at present there was nothing but a parade of jagged stumps among which muddy paths threaded their devious ways. Below the hotel a tiny ste

7、rn-wheeler of quaint, lubberly design lay with her nose tucked in the mud of the river bank. At eleven in the morning there were few humans in sight, because the black flies were in murderous fettle, and anyway, the principal industry of the place waswaiting for the railway.One had only to raise one

8、s eyes to receive a quite different impression of the scene. Where mans work looked sodden, Natures was deliciously refreshed. The world wore that honest look it shows after rain before the sun comes out, that calm openness under the pure light that casts no shadows. The pine-clad mountains loomed n

9、ear and clean and dark. The cloud wrack pressed down close upon their heads, giving the valley the confined and intimate look of a room. There were already rents in the ceiling, revealing a tender blue back-cloth. The air was as sweet in the nostrils as spring water in a parched throat.Farthest from

10、 the hotel on the Campbell River side was a shack more of the dimensions of a chicken house than a residence for humans. Beside the door was nailed a little sign obviously painted by an unprofessional hand, reading, Ralph Cowdray, M.D. Within, in the first of the two closets the shack comprised, sat

11、 the doctor and his friend Dan Reach, the telegraph operator, the first with his heels cocked on the packing-case that served him for a desk, the other with his lower extremities supported by the window-sill. From each ascended a column of smoke. The only other furniture of the room was a little sta

12、nd of pine shelves in the corner bearing the doctors slender library and pharmaceutical stock, books and bottles as new as the doctors office and the doctor himself.The two men mustered forty-nine years between them, with the odd year on the telegraphers side. The doctor was a youth of middle height

13、 with a strong, well-knit frame, and a comely head broadest over the ears, with a luxuriant thatch of dark brown. His face was strongly moulded, almost too heavy in its lines for his years, but oddly redeemed by a pair of dreamy brown eyes. There was an interesting contradiction here: nose, mouth, c

14、hin, suggested a commendable hardihood, an honest obstinacy, while the eyes seemed to see through and beyond what they were turned on. Like all resolute young men, Ralph regarded the softer side of his character as a weakness and hid it close. Like other young men again, he paid his way through the

15、world with the small change of a facetious manner, which reduces them all to a common, comfortable level.Ralph and Dan killed time with endless, jocular quarrelling. Their dependence on each others society in this dull little settlement had brought about an unusual degree of intimacy in a few weeks.

16、 In other words, they were almost honest with each other. At present Ralphs facetious manner only half concealed a very real grievance against life.Romance is extinct, like the dodo, he announced.Dan was a tall, lean young man, inclining to the saturnine type. That requires examination, he said judi

17、cially. First, define Romance.Romance, said Ralph, throwing back his head and puffing a tall column of smoke toward the ceilingthe dreaminess of his eyes had full sway at that momentRomance is every mans unrealized desire.You contradict yourself, said Dan with provoking exactness. How can a thing be

18、 dead which was never realized?The question was awkward, so Ralph serenely ignored it. Ever since I went into long trousers Ive been looking for it, he went on lightly. Nothing doing!Maybe thats the trouble, suggested Dan; maybe Romance begins at home.Did you ever find it? challenged Ralph.Never loo

19、ked, returned Dan calmly.Oh, youve no imagination!Dan chuckled. According to that, Romance is only imaginary, then. Got you again, Doc!Naturally these discussions never arrived anywhere. When one was stumped for an answer he hit out on a new line. The thing was to keep the ball in play by any device

20、 until the next meal created a diversion.I thought college would be romantic, Ralph went on. I had fun of course, bully fun, but just the ordinary college fun. There were girls, plenty of em, dear little things! transparent as window-glass. Gad! a man longs to meet a woman who can fascinate him, and

21、 stir him to the bottom, and keep him guessing!Well, let me see what weve got in Fort Edward, said Dan. To begin with, theres Biddy MaroneyCut it out! cried Ralph. Fatal to thoughts of Romance! After college there was the medical school and the hospitals, he went on. They knocked the spots out of Ro

22、mance. Say, a city doctor loses faith in his fellowmen. I decided Id hang out my shingle in the woods, and I came up here because it was the beyondest place I could hear of.Thinking youd surely find Romance somewhere back of beyond, suggested Dan.Sure! The noble red man, you understand; the glitteri

23、ng-eyed prospector lusting for gold; the sturdy pioneer hewing a home for his brood in the wildernessand all that! Well, here I am, and what is it?a village of poor suckers done up brown, like myself, by the real-estate sharks outside!Striking metaphor! murmured Dan.Everybody sitting on their tails

24、expecting to be rich any day by the grace of God! Ralph went on. And Indians! swillers of beer-dregs! Town scavengers! Moreover, its the healthiest place on earth, I believe. I never get a case but a scalp wound or two after a big night at Maroneys. As for Romance, shes as far away as ever! And Im g

25、etting on!True, said Dan, with a serious wag of the head, youve no time to lose!As a matter of fact, Ralphs youthfulness was a sore subject with him, as it is with all young doctors.He let the dig pass unnoticed. Ive almost given up hope, he said.There was a knock at the door.Here she is now, said D

26、an dryly.Come in, said Ralph indifferently.It was a woman, but only an Indian woman dressed in a ridiculous travesty of white womens clothes. The two young men lowered their feet, and exchanged a humorous glance. After an idle look, Ralphs regard returned to his pipe. To tell the truth, he had found

27、 the Indians around Fort Edward as patients neither profitable nor grateful, and he could not be expected to welcome a new one with any enthusiasm. Dan was the more impressed; he studied the girl with a kind of wonder, and from her looked curiously at his friend.I want to see the doctor, she said, i

28、n a soft and agreeable voice.What can I do for you? asked Ralph, off-hand.She did not answer immediately, and he looked at her again. Her eyes were bent on Dan, unmistakably conveying a polite hint. Dan saw it and rose.See you at Maroneys at dinner, he said, passing out with a backward glance at his

29、 friend; teasing, a little wondering still, and frankly envious.Well? said Ralph, looking his caller over with a professional eye. She seemed healthy. For an Indian she was very good-looking, but this fact reached him only by degrees. Her clothes were deplorable: a flat red hat with a pert frill bal

30、anced crazily on her glossy hair; a curiously tortured blue satin waist; a full woollen skirt hanging on her like an ill-made bag, and cheap, new, misshapen shoes. The effect was as if some wag had draped a classic statue in a low comedy make-up. Naturally Ralph received his first impression from th

31、e make-up.In answer to his measuring glance she said: I not sick. I come to get you for my moter.Ralph reached for his hat.Wait a minute, she said. We must talk before.Sit down, said Ralph.She shook her head. I stand, she said coolly.There was a pause while she studied him with grave, troubled eyes.

32、 You ver yong to be a doctor, she remarked at length.Ralph frowned in an elderly way, and bit his lip.Are you a good doctor? she asked.He laughed in his annoyance. What am I to say to that?His laughter disconcerted her. I mean a college doctor, she said sulkily.McGill, Bellevue, said Ralph.I dont kn

33、ow those, she said. Have you any writings?Ralph stared at her. What a question from an Indian! he thought. He began to be aware that he was dealing with a distinct individuality, and for the first he perceived the classic beauties obscured by the grotesque outer semblance. The anatomist in him judge

34、d and approved the admirable flowing lines of her body, and the lover of beauty thrilled. One of her greatest beauties was in the graceful poise of her head on her neck. Indian women commonly have no necks to speak of. His gaze rose to her eyes and lost itself for a moment. All the Indians he had se

35、en hitherto had hard, flat, shallow eyes; hers had depth and purpose and feeling. Extraordinarily beautiful eyes! he thought, with the start of a discoverer.His good humor restored, he showed her his diplomas, following the script with a forefinger, and reading aloud.I can read, she said calmly.Ralp

36、h felt rebuked.But that is fonny printing, she confessed.Her next question surprised him afresh. Can you cut?Cut? echoed Ralph, gaping a little. You mean surgery? Yes.My moter, she break her arm, the girl explained. I set it myself. I know that. After that I have to go away. She take off thewhat do

37、you call the sticks? She illustrated.Splints, put in Ralph.Yes, she take off the splints too soon, and try to work, and when I come home her arm is all crooked. All the time it grows more crookeder. She is so scare she is sick. Can you fix it? she asked anxiously.Surely! said Ralph. The arm must be

38、broken again and reset.Broken again? the girl said, with an alarmed look. That hurt her bad. She not let you do that, I think. Can you put her to sleep?An?sthetic? Certainly! said Ralph. Where did you learn about an?sthetics? he asked curiously.I have work in Prince George and Winnipeg three years,

39、she said. I know about a hospital.Ill come and take a look at your mother, Ralph said. In his manner there was still something of a doctors condescension to an humble patient. Where do you live?She paused before replying, and looked at him with a certain apprehensiveness. North, she said slowly. Sev

40、en days journey from Gisborne portage.He was effectually startled out of his superior attitude. Seven days! he cried. How on earth do you expect me to do that!I take you in my canoe, she said. You back here three weeks or one month.When he recovered from his first surprise the comic aspect of it str

41、uck him: to travel a month to see one sick Indian! Well, Im he began, but the look in her eyes arrested the participle. A month! he cried.She was sensitive to ridicule; a proud, sullen look came over her face. I pay you, she said quickly. I pay what you want.Ralph laughed indulgently. Im afraid you

42、dont realize what its worth, he said. A month of a doctors time! It would be cheap at three hundred dollars.I dont want you cheap, she said, with the air of a princess. I pay more.Ralph looked at the absurd hat she wore, and struggled with his laughter. She was beautiful, she was amazing, but she wa

43、s comic. What am I up against? he thought. Aloud, he said in a friendly way: Its a lot of money. Tell me something about yourself and your people. What is your name? Where will you get so much money?But his laughter had angered her; her face expressed only a sullen blank. She did not answer.What is

44、your name? Ralph repeated. You must answer my questions, you know.I tell you what I like, she said scornfully.Ralph was irritated. Do you expect me to start on a wild-goose chase into the wilderness without knowing what Im letting myself in for? he said sharply.I pay you before you go, she said, wit

45、h her princess air.It did not help to soothe him. Hang the pay! he cried. Im not for sale. I dont go in for a thing unless Im satisfied its straight!She was not in the least intimidated by his raised voice. You only got to do doctors work, she said coldly.Ralph stared at her, confused and nonplussed

46、 by the variety of emotions she excited in him. Her beauty aroused him, her indifference piqued him, and her inscrutability provoked his curiosity to the highest degree. Obstinacy in another always had the effect of awakening the same quality in Ralph. He said coldly: It sounds queer to me. Im not i

47、nterested.Clearly she still clung to the idea that it was a question of payment with him. His glances of scornful amusement at her clothes had not escaped her womans perceptions. You think I poor, she said. You think I got nothing. I got plenty.I dont care what youve got, said Ralph. Deal with me openly, and Ill meet you halfway.Her hand went to the bosom of her dress and closed around something that was hidden there. If I show you something, you promise not to tell? she said, with sudden earnestness. You shake hands and promise not to tell?More mystery! Curiosity waxed gre