国外文学英文系列 Lover and Husband.docx

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1、国外文学英文系列 Lover and HusbandTitle: Lover and HusbandAuthor: Ennis GrahamCHAPTER I.ANTECEDENTS.“The children of one mother, You could not say in one short day, What love they bore each other.”WORDSWORTH.LONDON in September. A dull, close, airless day. The streets would have been dusty enough too, no do

2、ubt, had there been a breath to stir the dust, which one felt instinctively, was lying there in masses, ready on the slightest provocation to rise in choking clouds. A day when one longed for the sea, or failing that, for a breeze of fresh air. A day when one could hardly believe in the reality of c

3、ool green fields, or babbling, trickling brooks. Not that it was so much hot, for there was little sun, as dry, and heavy, and intensely dull. Dull everywhere, but especially so in one of the somewhat old-fashioned, but unmistakably respectable squares of which there are not a few in London, so much

4、 resembling each other as to require no special description. The square at this season looked its very dullest and ugliest; under these circumstances, I should suppose, the more nearly fulfilling the aim, as regards outward appearance, of the melancholy architects who planned it. Half the houses wer

5、e shut-up, and of the remainder, several were evidently shortly about to be so, for in some, hot and dusty housemaids were to be seen pulling down window curtains, and in one or two more an acute observer, by dint of a little peeping, might have discovered business-like trunks and carpet-bags ready

6、packed and strapped for starting, or else gaping open while undergoing the mysterious process called “airing,” in some of the lower regions where such domestic rites are usually performed.In one of the dullest of the dull houses, in a sort of library or morning room on the first floor, a young girl

7、sat alone. The room was not a pretty one. At the best of times it might have been called comfortable, but nothing more for its furniture, though solid and good of its kind, was like the rest of the house, heavy, dark, and ungraceful. On this day the room looked especially uninviting, for there was a

8、bout it that peculiar look of business-like disorder, which, even in the neatest of households, inevitably accompanies preparations for “leaving home.” Torn letters, bits of string, and address labels, a work-basket half emptied of its contents, all told their own tale.The only pretty thing in the r

9、oom was its occupant. She was certainly not beautiful, but like many people to whom that word, in its ordinary and superficial sense, could not be truthfully applied, she was most thoroughly pleasant to look upon. Possibly a thought too thin, and hardly rosy enough for what one likes to see in a gir

10、l of nineteen, but with no lack of health and vigour in her firm, well set frame, and pale, though not sallow complexion. And with no want of intelligence or quick perception in her grey eyes, as a glance from them would soon have told. A good, gentle, pretty girl, just such, I think, as one would l

11、ike to see ones own daughter, though with rather more thoughtfulness of expression than seems quite natural in so young a creature. This came, however, from her rather too quiet and solitary life, and from no original dearth of the bright hopefulness and gaiety of spirit hardly in theory to be separ

12、ated from the idea of healthy youth.The girl sat at her writing-table, but not writing. Rather wearied with all her little preparations, she felt glad to sit still doing nothing, and though looking very thoughtful, as was her habit, still, to tell the truth, she was thinking of little in particular.

13、 There was perfect silence through the house, and the occasional roll of wheels in the neighbouring streets sounded rumbling and heavy through the still, drowsy air. Marion, I think, was very nearly on the point of succumbing to these various influences by falling asleep outright, when her reveries

14、were disturbed by a sharp, sudden ring at the hall-door. She started up, but sat down again lazily, saying to herself,” Oh, I forgot, it will be only Cissy.” “Cissy,” evidently not being a person to be treated with much ceremony. But a second start was in store for poor Marions nerves, had she been

15、conscious of possessing any such undesirable things. A moments interval and then came the sound of hasty feet up the stairs; the door opened suddenly and an unexpected visitor entered. A boy of course. No one but a boy, and one too in a hurry, could have come up stairs in that three-steps-at-a-time

16、sort of way, or opened the door with that indescribable sort of fling, neither bang nor jerk, though partaking of the nature of both. Though, after all, perhaps, it is hardly fair to this particular boy, to introduce him as so thoroughly one of his rather objectionable class; for when he was not in

17、a hurry or very unusually out of temper, Harry Vere, my Marions brother, did not by any means forget the small proprieties of life. A good boy, in the main; certainly neither a sneak nor a bully. His looks would have belied him had he been either. He had a fair, open, honest face, with, however, muc

18、h less strength than his sisters, and also less promise of future development. He hurried in, looking flushed and travel-stained, and anxious too, as the girls quick observation was not slow to discover.“Harry!” she exclaimed, “you here! How did you get off, and what is the matter? Is anything wrong

19、?” asking, after the manner of people in a hurry to get an answer, three questions, where one would have served the purpose.“No, no, nothing is wrong,” said the boy “at least, nothing much. I have not been expelled, or broken my legs, as you can see for yourself. Dont get into a fuss. I only came up

20、 because I wanted so much to see you before you go. You shall hear all about it in a minute; but first tell me one thing. My father is still away? There no fear of his seeing me today?”“Oh no, not the least,” replied the girl, evidently by no means surprised at the unfilial spirit of the question; “

21、he has been away since Monday, and wont return till the day after tomorrow. But I am leaving tomorrow, you know. When I heard your ring I thought it was Cissy Archer, for I am expecting her this afternoon, to settle definitely about our train. I see though,” she added, glancing at the time-piece, “s

22、he wont be here for an hour yet, so we have plenty of time for a talk.”“Not so very much,” said Harry, “for I must have some luncheon, as I cant get back to school till late, and my train goes in an hour and a half. You can fancy how very much I wanted to see you, Marion, for even though I came seco

23、nd-class, my fare will all by clear me out; and I cant now get leave to be away again before Christmas, so I shall miss the match at Barrow next week.”Before answering Marion rang the bell and ordered some cold provisions in the way of luncheon for her brother. As the servant was leaving the room Ha

24、rry said to him rather awkwardly and hesitatingly, “Brown, you neednt say anything to your master about my having come up to see Miss Vere before she goes.”Brown being fortunately of the order of discreet domestics, answered simply:“Very well, Sir, I will take care that your wishes are attended to;”

25、 muttering however to himself as soon as he was outside the door, “Lucky for poor Master Harry that none of them other chattering idiots saw him come, and that I got the cold beef and bread unbeknownst to cook.”When Harry was comfortably seated at his repast, Marion repeated her request.“Now, Harry,

26、 tell me all about it.”“Well, Marion, the long and the short of it is, Ive got into a scrape. Not a bad one though,” added he hurriedly, seeing the increasing anxiety in his sisters eyes, “nothing disgraceful or ungentlemanly. You would never fear that for me, May? It was a good while ago; but I did

27、 not tell you about it at Midsummer, because I thought then I should be able to set it right, but now it has got worse. I know I was a fool for my pains to hide it from you. Several months ago, one holiday at school, I hired a horse. Of course it is against the rules but lots of follows do it. I am

28、really very fond of riding, though I dont know about it, but I dont think I should have been tempted to do it in this underhand sort of way if my father had sometimes let me have a little in the holidays. But thenyou know as well as I how he thwarts me; but thats an old story. Well, as ill-luck woul

29、d have it I lamed the beast. I am no judge of horses, but still I think it was above the average of a livery stable. The man made an awful row, said he had that morning refused sixty pounds for it, and it was now worthless. He threatened to complain to the head-master. I dont know what is the law in

30、 such matters, but I was in such a fright that he would really tell on me, that I made on the spot the best terms I could with him, which were to pay him twenty pounds down the next morning; though when I promised this I had not the least idea where to get the money. I went straight to Cuthbert, my

31、great chum, you know, Marion, and told him all about it. He begged me not to make a fuss, and I should have the money in time. And sure enough by next morning he had it for me, and I paid the man, as I had promised.”“But Cuthbert!” said Marion, in amazement, “how could he get it, Harry? His people a

32、re not at all rich, and I should think he has even less pocket-money than you.”“Yes, indeed,” replied Harry,” theres the pull. Cuthbert knew I would pay him as soon as I could, and he has been awfully good about it. But only last week he came to me in great distress and told me the whole affair. It

33、seems he got the money in his own name from a wretched Jew at a hideous rate of interest, trusting to my being able to pay him, in part, any way, last mouth; as I quite hoped I should have got something from Aunt Tremlett on my birthday. Of course she was ill and sent me nothing. Now poor Cuthbert m

34、ust pay it before the 15th of October, and this wretch has made it somehow or other come to thirty instead of twenty pounds. The exposure would utterly ruin Cuthbert. Thats the horrible part of it; to think what my folly has brought him into, good fellow that he is. Why he never spends a sixpence he

35、 can help on himself! Now Marion what can I do? How ever am I to get thirty pounds before the 15th of October?”“If only I had it,” sighed poor Marion, “but you know I never have five pounds in my own hands, much less thirty.”“I know that quite well. I never had the least idea of getting it from you,

36、 May. All thought of was, that as two heads are better than one you might help me to find out some way of getting it. Of course, if the worst comes to the worst, rather than let Cuthbert suffer I will go to my father. He would pay it. I have no doubt, but would probably never speak to me again. Any

37、way all chance of my going into the army would be over, and just when I am so close upon it too: leaving school at Christmas for good. Oh, what a fool I was! But for both your sake and my own, May, I would rather do anything than speak to my father. It would be perfectly horrible to have to do it. I

38、 declare I would rather run away, if only I could beg, borrow, or steal the money in the first place.”“Hush, Harry,” said his sister, “dont talk nonsense, but think seriously what to do. If only Aunt Tremlett had not been so ill, she might have helped us.”“Not she, indeed,” replied the boy impatient

39、ly, “or if she had even agreed to do so, she would have been pretty sure to discover that it was her duty to tell my father. Old idiot that she is.”“You need not waste your time in abusing her, Harry, for as things are, she is out of the question. But Harry, dear,” she added anxiously, as the sound

40、of the clock striking caught her ear, “I fear your time is almost up?”“All but,” said the boy, with a rather poor attempt at a laugh, “so Marion you dont see any way to helping me out of my trouble? And think what a time it will be before we see each other again! You are to be at Altes with Cissy Ar

41、cher for six months, didnt you say?”“Six months, certainly, I believe,” said his sister, “I should like the thoughts of it exceedingly, but for the one drawback of not seeing you in the holidays. But that cant be helped! And now about this trouble or yours, Harry. Do nothing just yet. Wait, any way,

42、 till the end of the month; that will be a fortnight from now, and I will see if by then I can hit upon any plan to prevent your having to tell Papa; for that would really be too dreadful. Not so much the disagreeable of it as the after consequences, for he would never forgive it, or trust you again

43、.”“Never,” said Harry, emphatically. “But Marion, I must go. Thank you, dear, for being so kind about it. Many a sister would have scolded or preached, but I am far more sorry than if you had done either. Well, then, youll write within a fortnight and send your address. I suppose you dont know it ye

44、t? Good bye, and mind you dont fuss about me more than you can help.” And with a more affectionate parting hug than he would perhaps have liked Brown major or Jones minor, to be witness to, Harry departed, his heart considerably lighter, as is the way with selfish mankind, for having shared its burd

45、en with another.Marion, poor child, sat down again where he had found her, burying her face in her hands as she vainly tried to solve the problem so unexpectedly placed before her: “Where to find thirty pounds?” She had never before actually cared about the possession of any sum of money, for though

46、 by no means luxuriously brought up, still, as is the case with many young people, the comforts of life had, as it were, “grown for her.” Her fathers peculiar ideas as to the inexpediency of treating his children as reasonable or responsible beings, had left her, in many practical respects, singular

47、ly inexperienced. She had certainly often wished, like all young people in a passing way, for things beyond her reach; but still, whatever was really necessary to her comfort, or suitable for her position, Mr. Vere had provided and paid for. In proportion, therefore, to her previous exemption from a

48、nything in the shape of financial anxieties, were her alarm and consternation at the present difficulty. And terrible, indeed, appeared the alternative of laying the matter before her falter. Sad perversion of what should be the most tender and trustful of relations; that between parent and child, w

49、hen, in his distress and perplexity, or even in his shame and remorse, the childs first impulse, instead of being to fly for counsel or comfort to the one friend who should never refuse it, is, at all costs, to conceal his trouble from the parent who has indeed succeeded in inspiring him with fear and distrust,but alas with nothing more! And this is done every day, not by hard or indifferent fathers only, b