第 35 节
作者:这就是结局      更新:2022-08-21 16:39      字数:9320
  is chiefly for want of exertion。  I should like to rouse him if papa
  would let me; I know I could; by telling him how these Andersons are
  reckoning on his getting down。  If he does; I shall be ready to run
  away; that I may never meet any one here again。〃
  Ethel was very unhappy till she was able to pour all this trouble out
  to Margaret; and worked herself almost into crying about Norman's
  being passed by 〃that Harvey;〃 and his sisters exulting; and papa
  being vexed; and Norman losing time and not caring。
  〃There you are wrong;〃 said Margaret; 〃Norman did care very much; and
  it was not till he had seen clearly that it was a matter of duty to
  do as papa thought right; and not agitate his mind about his chances
  of keeping up; that he could bear to give up his work;〃 and she told
  Ethel a little of what had passed。
  Ethel was much struck。  〃But oh; Margaret; it is very hard; just to
  have him put up for the sake of being put down; and pleasing the
  Andersons!〃
  〃Dear Ethel; why should you mind so much about the Andersons?  May
  they not care about their brother as we do for ours?〃
  〃Such a brother to care about!〃 said Ethel。
  〃But I suppose they may like him the best;〃 said Margaret; smiling。
  〃I suppose they do;〃 said Ethel grudgingly; 〃but still I cannot bear
  to see Norman doing nothing; and I know Harvey Anderson will beat
  him。〃
  〃Surely you had rather he did nothing than made himself ill!〃
  〃To be sure; but I wish it wasn't so。〃
  〃Yes; but; Ethel; whose doing is his getting into this state?〃
  Ethel looked grave。  〃It was wrong of me;〃 said she; 〃but then papa
  is not sure that Greek would hurt him。〃
  〃Not sure; but he thinks it not wise to run the risk。  But; Ethel;
  dear; why are you so bent on his being dux at all costs?〃
  〃It would be horrid if he was not。〃
  〃Don't you remember you used to say that outward praise or honour was
  not to be cared for as long as one did one's duty; and that it might
  be a temptation?〃
  〃Yes; I know I did;〃 said Ethel; faltering; 〃but that was for
  oneself。〃
  〃It is harder; I think; to feel so about those we care for;〃 said
  Margaret; 〃but after all; this is just what will show whether our
  pride in Norman is the right true loving pride; or whether it is only
  the family vanity of triumphing over the Andersons。〃
  Ethel hung her head。 〃There's some of that;〃 she said; 〃but it is not
  all。  NoI don't want to triumph over them; nobody would do that。〃
  〃Not outwardly perhaps; but in their hearts。〃
  〃I can't tell;〃 said Ethel; 〃but it is the being triumphed over that
  I cannot bear。〃
  〃Perhaps this is all a lesson in humility for us;〃 said Margaret  〃It
  is teaching us; 'Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he
  that humbleth himself shall be exalted。'〃
  Ethel was silent for some little space; then suddenly exclaimed; 〃And
  you think he will really be put down?〃
  Margaret seemed to have been talking with little effect; but she kept
  her patience; and answered; 〃I cannot guess; Ethel; but I'll tell you
  one thing…桰 think there's much more chance if he comes to his work
  fresh and vigorous after a rest; than if he went on dulling himself
  with it all this time。〃
  With which Ethel was so far appeased that she promised to think as
  little as she could of the Andersons; and a walk with Richard to
  Cocksmoor turned the current of her thoughts。  They had caught some
  more Sunday…school children by the help of Margaret's broth; but it
  was uphill work; the servants did not like such guests in the
  kitchen; and they were still less welcome at school。
  〃What do you think I heard; Ethel?〃 said Flora; the next Sunday; as
  they joined each other in the walk from school to church; 〃I heard
  Miss Graves say to Miss Boulder; 'I declare I must remonstrate。  I
  undertook to instruct a national; not a ragged school;' and then Miss
  Boulder shook out her fine watered silk and said; 〃It positively is
  improper to place ladies in contact with such squalid objects。'〃
  〃Ladies!〃 cried Ethel。  〃A stationer's daughter and a banker's
  clerk's!  Why do they come to teach at school at all?〃
  〃Because our example makes it genteel;〃 said Flora。
  〃I hope you did something more in hopes of making it genteel。〃
  〃I caught one of your ragged regiment with her frock gaping behind;
  and pinned it up。  Such rags as there were under it!  Oh; Ethel!〃
  〃Which was it?〃
  〃That merry Irish…looking child。  I don't know her name。〃
  〃Oh! it is a real charming Irish name; Una M'Carthy。  I am so glad
  you did it; Flora。  I hope they were ashamed。〃
  〃I doubt whether it will do good。  We are sure of our station and can
  do anything?they are struggling to be ladies。〃
  〃But we ought not to talk of them any more; Flora; here we are almost
  at the churchyard。〃
  The Tuesday of this week was appointed for the visit of the London
  surgeon; Sir Matthew Fleet; and the expectation caused Dr。 May to
  talk much to Margaret of old times; and the days of is courtship;
  when it had been his favourite project that his friend and fellow…
  student should marry Flora Mackenzie; and there had been a promising
  degree of liking; but 〃Mat〃 had been obliged to be prudent; and had
  ended by never marrying at all。  This the doctor; as well as his
  daughters; believed was for the sake of Aunt Flora; and thus the
  girls were a good deal excited about his coming; almost as much on
  his own account; as because they considered him as the arbiter of
  Margaret's fate。  He only came in time for a seven o'clock dinner;
  and Margaret did not see him that night; but heard enough from her
  sisters; when they came up to tell the history of their guest; and of
  the first set dinner when Flora had acted as lady of the house。  The
  dinner it appeared had gone off very well。  Flora had managed
  admirably; and the only mishap was some awkward carving of Ethel's
  which had caused the dish to be changed with Norman。  As to the
  guest; Flora said he was very good…looking and agreeable。  Ethel
  abruptly pronounced; 〃I am very glad Aunt Flora married Uncle Arnott
  instead。〃
  〃I can't think why;〃 said Flora。 〃I never saw a person of pleasanter
  manners。〃
  〃Did they talk of old times?〃 said Margaret。
  〃No;〃 said Ethel; 〃that was the thing。〃
  〃You would not have them talk of those matters in the middle of
  dinner;〃 said Flora。
  〃No;〃 again said Ethel; 〃but papa has a waydon't you know;
  Margaret; how one can tell in a moment if it is company talk。〃
  〃What was the conversation about?〃 said Margaret。
  〃They talked over some of their fellow…students;〃 said Flora。
  〃Yes;〃 said Ethel; 〃and then when papa told him that beautiful
  history of Dr。 Spencer going to take care of those poor emigrants in
  the fever; what do you think he said?  'Yes; Spencer was always doing
  extravagant things。'  Fancy that to papa; who can hardly speak of it
  without having to wipe his spectacles; and who so longs to hear of
  Dr。 Spencer。〃
  〃And what did he say?〃
  〃Nothing; so Flora and Sir Matthew got to pictures and all that sort
  of thing; and it was all company talk after that。〃
  〃Most entertaining in its kind;〃 said Flora: 〃butoh; Norman!〃 as he
  entered〃why; they are not out of the dining…room yet!〃
  〃No; they are talking of some new invention; and most likely will not
  come for an hour。〃
  〃Are you going to bed?〃
  〃Papa followed me out of the dining…room to tell me to do so after
  tea。〃
  〃Then sit down there; and I'll go and make some; and let it come up
  with Margaret's。  Come; Ethel。  Good…night; Norman。  Is your head
  aching to…night?〃
  〃Not much; now I have got out of the dining…room。〃
  〃It would have been wiser not to have gone in;〃 said Flora; leaving
  the room。
  〃It was not the dinner; but the man;〃 said Norman。  〃It is
  incomprehensible to me how my father could take to him。  I'd as soon
  have Harvey Anderson for a friend!〃
  〃You are like me;〃 said Ethel; 〃in being glad he is not our
  uncle。〃
  〃He presume to think of falling in love with Aunt Flora!〃 cried
  Norman indignantly。
  〃Why; what is the matter with him?〃 asked Margaret。  〃I can't find
  much ground for Ethel's dislike; and Flora is pleased。〃
  〃She did not hear the worst; nor you either; Ethel;〃 said Norman。  〃I
  could not stand the cold hard way he spoke of hospital patients。  I
  am sure he thinks poor people nothing but a study; and rich ones
  nothing but a profit。  And his half sneers!  But what I hated most
  was his way of avoiding discussions。  When he saw he had said what
  would not go down with papa; he did not honestly stand up to the
  point; and argue it out; but seemed to have no mind of his own; and
  to be only talking to please papabut not knowing how to do it。
  He understand my father indeed!〃
  Norman's indignation had quite revived him; and Margaret was much
  entertained with the conflicting opinions。  The next was Richard's;
  when he came in late to wish her good…night; after he had been
  attending on Sir Matthew's examination of his father's arm。  He did
  nothing but admire the surgeon's delicacy of touch and understanding
  of the case; his view agreeing much better with Dr。 May's own than
  that with Mr。 Ward's。  Dr。 May had never been entirely satisfied with
  the present mode of treatment; and Richard was much struck by