第 5 节
作者:炒作      更新:2024-07-17 14:41      字数:9321
  reception in honor of the twins; and at the close of it the gifted
  〃freak〃 captured everybody's admiration by sitting down at the piano and
  knocking out a classic four…handed piece in great style。  Then the judge
  took itor themdriving in his buggy and showed off his village。'
  All along the streets the people crowded the windows and stared at the
  amazing twins。  Troops of small boys flocked after the buggy; excited and
  yelling。  At first the dogs showed no interest。  They thought they merely
  saw three men in a buggya matter of no consequence; but when they found
  out the facts of the case; they altered their opinion pretty radically;
  and joined the boys; expressing their minds as they came。  Other dogs got
  interested; indeed; all the dogs。  It was a spirited sight to see them
  come leaping fences; tearing around corners; swarming out of every
  bystreet and alley。  The noise they made was something beyond belief
  or praise。  They did not seem to be moved by malice but only by
  prejudice; the common human prejudice against lack of conformity。  If the
  twins turned their heads; they broke and fled in every direction; but
  stopped at a safe distance and faced about; and then formed and came on
  again as soon as the strangers showed them their back。  Negroes and
  farmers' wives took to the woods when the buggy came upon them suddenly;
  and altogether the drive was pleasant and animated; and a refreshment all
  around。
  'It was a long and lively drive。  Angelo was a Methodist; Luigi was
  a Free…thinker。  The judge was very proud of his Freethinkers'
  Society; which was flourishing along in a most prosperous way and
  already had two membershimself and the obscure and neglected
  Pudd'nhead Wilson。  It was to meet that evening; and he invited
  Luigi to join; a thing which Luigi was glad to do; partly because it
  would please himself; and partly because it would gravel Angelo。'
  They had now arrived at the widow's gate; and the excursion was ended。
  The twins politely expressed their obligations for the pleasant outing
  which had been afforded them; to which the judge bowed his thanks;
  and then said he would now go and arrange for the Free…thinkers' meeting;
  and would call for Count Luigi in the evening。
  〃For you also; dear sir;〃 he added hastily; turning to Angelo and bowing。
  〃In addressing myself particularly to your brother; I was not meaning to
  leave you out。  It was an unintentional rudeness; I assure you; and due
  wholly to accidentaccident and preoccupation。  I beg you to forgive
  me。〃
  His quick eye had seen the sensitive blood mount into Angelo's face;
  betraying the wound that had been inflicted。  The sting of the slight had
  gone deep; but the apology was so prompt; and so evidently sincere; that
  the hurt was almost immediately healed; and a forgiving smile testified
  to the kindly judge that all was well again。
  Concealed behind Angelo's modest and unassuming exterior; and unsuspected
  by any but his intimates; was a lofty pride; a pride of almost abnormal
  proportions; indeed; and this rendered him ever the prey of slights; and
  although they were almost always imaginary ones; they hurt none the less
  on that account。  By ill fortune judge Driscoll had happened to touch his
  sorest point; i。e。; his conviction that his brother's presence was
  welcomer everywhere than his own; that he was often invited; out of mere
  courtesy; where only his brother was wanted; and that in a majority of
  cases he would not be included in an invitation if he could be left out
  without offense。  A sensitive nature like this is necessarily subject to
  moods; moods which traverse the whole gamut of feeling; moods which know
  all the climes of emotion; from the sunny heights of joy to the black
  abysses of despair。  At times; in his seasons of deepest depressions;
  Angelo almost wished that he and his brother might become segregated from
  each other and be separate individuals; like other men。  But of course as
  soon as his mind cleared and these diseased imaginings passed away; he
  shuddered at the repulsive thought; and earnestly prayed that it might
  visit him no more。  To be separate; and as other men are!  How awkward it
  would seem; how unendurable。  What would he do with his hands; his arms?
  How would his legs feel?  How odd; and strange; and grotesque every
  action; attitude; movement; gesture would be。  To sleep by himself; eat
  by himself; walk by himselfhow lonely; how unspeakably lonely!  No; no;
  any fate but that。  In every way and from every point; the idea was
  revolting。
  This was of course natural; to have felt otherwise would have been
  unnatural。  He had known no life but a combined one; he had been familiar
  with it from his birth; he was not able to conceive of any other as being
  agreeable; or even bearable。  To him; in the privacy of his secret
  thoughts; all other men were monsters; deformities: and during
  three…fourths of his life their aspect had filled him with what promised
  to be an unconquerable aversion。  But at eighteen his eye began to take
  note of female beauty; and little by little; undefined longings grew up
  in his heart; under whose softening influences the old stubborn aversion
  gradually diminished; and finally disappeared。  Men were still
  monstrosities to him; still deformities; and in his sober moments he had
  no desire to be like them; but their strange and unsocial and uncanny
  construction was no longer offensive to him。
  This had been a hard day for him; physically and mentally。  He had been
  called in the morning before he had quite slept off the effects of the
  liquor which Luigi had drunk; and so; for the first half…hour had had the
  seedy feeling; and languor; the brooding depression; the cobwebby mouth
  and druggy taste that come of dissipation and are so ill a preparation
  for bodily or intellectual activities; the long violent strain of the
  reception had followed; and this had been followed; in turn; by the
  dreary sight…seeing; the judge's wearying explanations and laudations of
  the sights; and the stupefying clamor of the dogs。  As a congruous
  conclusion; a fitting end; his feelings had been hurt; a slight had been
  put upon him。  He would have been glad to forego dinner and betake
  himself to rest and sleep; but he held his peace and said no word; for he
  knew his brother; Luigi; was fresh; unweary; full of life; spirit;
  energy; he would have scoffed at the idea of wasting valuable time on a
  bed or a sofa; and would have refused permission。
  CHAPTER IV
  SUPERNATURAL CHRONOMETRY
  Rowena was dining out; Joe and Harry were belated at play; there were but
  three chairs and four persons that noon at the home dinner…table
  the twins; the widow; and her chum; Aunt Betsy Hale。  The widow soon
  perceived that Angelo's spirits were as low as Luigi's were high; and
  also that he had a jaded look。  Her motherly solicitude was aroused; and
  she tried to get him interested in the talk and win him to a happier
  frame of mind; but the cloud of sadness remained on his countenance。
  Luigi lent his help; too。  He used a form and a phrase which he was
  always accustomed to employ in these circumstances。  He gave his brother
  an affectionate slap on the shoulder and said; encouragingly:
  〃Cheer up; the worst is yet to come!〃
  But this did no good。  It never did。  If anything; it made the matter
  worse; as a rule; because it irritated Angelo。  This made it a favorite
  with Luigi。  By and by the widow said:
  〃Angelo; you are tired; you've overdone yourself; you go right to bed
  after dinner; and get a good nap and a rest; then you'll be all right。〃
  〃Indeed; I would give anything if I could do that; madam。〃
  〃And what's to hender; I'd like to know?  Land; the room's yours to do
  what you please with!  The idea that you can't do what you like with your
  own!〃
  〃But; you see; there's one prime essentialan essential of the very
  first importance which isn't my own。〃
  〃What is that?〃
  〃My body。〃
  The old ladies looked puzzled; and Aunt Betsy Hale said:
  〃Why bless your heart; how is that?〃
  〃It's my brother's。〃
  〃Your brother's!  I don't quite understand。  I supposed it belonged to
  both of you。〃
  〃So it does。  But not to both at the same time。〃
  〃That is mighty curious; I don't see how it can be。  I shouldn't think it
  could be managed that way。〃
  〃Oh; it's a good enough arrangement; and goes very well; in fact; it
  wouldn't do to have it otherwise。  I find that the teetotalers and the
  anti…teetotalers hire the use of the same hall for their meetings。  Both
  parties don't use it at the same time; do they?〃
  〃You bet they don't!〃 said both old ladies in a breath。
  〃And; moreover;〃 said Aunt Betsy; 〃the Freethinkers and the Baptist Bible
  class use the same room over the Market house; but you can take my word
  for it they don't mush up together and use it at the same time。'
  〃Very well;〃 said Angelo; 〃you understand it now。  And it stands to
  reason that the arrangement couldn't be improved。  I'll prove it to you。
  If our legs tried to obey two wills; how could we ever get anywhere?
  I would start one way; Luigi would start another; at the same moment
  the result would be a standstill; wouldn't it?〃
  〃As sure