第 19 节
作者:
小秋 更新:2021-03-11 17:56 字数:9321
to my father。 I returned with the foreign stamp; and I stuck it
on the envelope with my own hand。
There was nothing to interest _me_ in the address; as I ought to
have foreseen; if I had not been too much excited for the
exercise of a little common sense。 Miss Jillgall's wonderful
friend was only remarkable by her ugly foreign nameMRS。
TENBRUGGEN。
CHAPTER XVIII。
EUNICE'S DIARY。
HERE I am; writing my history of myself; once more; by my own
bedside。 Some unexpected events have happened while I have been
away。 One of them is the absence of my sister。
Helena has left home on a visit to a northern town by the
seaside。 She is staying in the house of a minister (one of papa's
friends); and is occupying a position of dignity in which I
should certainly lose my head。 The minister and his wife and
daughters propose to set up a Girls' Scripture Class; on the plan
devised by papa; and they are at a loss; poor helpless people; to
know how to begin。 Helena has volunteered to set the thing going。
And there she is now; advising everybody; governing everybody;
encouraging everybodyissuing directions; f inding fault;
rewarding meritoh; dear; let me put it all in one word; and
say: thoroughly enjoying herself。
Another event has happened; relating to papa。 It so distressed me
that I even forgot to think of Philipfor a little while。
Traveling by railway (I suppose because I am not used to it)
gives me the headache。 When I got to our station here; I thought
it would do me more good to walk home than to ride in the noisy
omnibus。 Half…way between the railway and the town; I met one of
the doctors。 He is a member of our congregation; and he it was
who recommended papa; some time since; to give up his work as a
minister and take a long holiday in foreign parts。
〃I am glad to have met with you;〃 the doctor said。 〃Your sister;
I find; is away on a visit; and I want to speak to one of you
about your father。〃
It seemed that he had been observing papa; in chapel; from what
he called his own medical point of view。 He did not conceal from
me that he had drawn conclusions which made him feel uneasy。 〃It
may be anxiety;〃 he said; 〃or it may be overwork。 In either case;
your father is in a state of nervous derangement; which is likely
to lead to serious resultsunless he takes the advice that I
gave him when he last consulted me。 There must be no more
hesitation about it。 Be careful not to irritate himbut remember
that he must rest。 You and your sister have some influence over
him; he won't listen to me。〃
Poor dear papa! I did see a change in him for the worsethough I
had only been away for so short a time。
When I put my arms round his neck; and kissed him; he turned
pale; and then flushed up suddenly: the tears came into his eyes。
Oh; it was hard to follow the doctor's advice; and not to cry;
too; but I succeeded in controlling myself。 I sat on his knee;
and made him tell me all that I have written here about Helena。
This led to our talking next of the new lady; who is to live with
us as a member of the family。 I began to feel less uneasy at the
prospect of being introduced to this stranger; when I heard that
she was papa's cousin。 And when he mentioned her name; and saw
how it amused me; his poor worn face brightened into a smile。 〃Go
and find her;〃 he said; 〃and introduce yourself。 I want to hear;
Eunice; if you and my cousin are likely to get on well together。〃
The servants told me that Miss Jillgall was in the garden。
I searched here; there; and everywhere; and failed to find her。
The place was so quiet; it looked so deliciously pure and bright;
after smoky dreary London; that I sat down at the further end of
the garden and let my mind take me back to Philip。 What was he
doing at that moment; while I was thinking of him? Perhaps he was
in the company of other young ladies; who drew all his thoughts
away to themselves? Or perhaps he was writing to his father in
Ireland; and saying something kindly and prettily about me? Or
perhaps he was looking forward; as anxiously as I do; to our
meeting next week。
I have had my plans; and I have changed my plans。
On the railway journey; I thought I would tell papa at once of
the new happiness which seems to have put a new life into me。 It
would have been delightful to make my confession to that first
and best and dearest of friends; but my meeting with the doctor
spoiled it all。 After what he had said to me; I discovered a
risk。 If I ventured to tell papa that my heart was set on a young
gentleman who was a stranger to him; could I be sure that he
would receive my confession favorably? There was a chance that it
might irritate himand the fault would then be mine of doing
what I had been warned to avoid。 It might be safer in every way
to wait till Philip paid his visit; and he and papa had been
introduced to each other and charmed with each other。 Could
Helena herself have arrived at a wiser conclusion? I declare I
felt proud of my own discretion。
In this enjoyable frame of mind I was disturbed by a woman's
voice。 The tone was a tone of distress; and the words reached my
ears from the end of the garden: 〃Please; miss; let me in。〃
A shrubbery marks the limit of our little bit of pleasure…ground。
On the other side of it there is a cottage standing on the edge
of the common。 The most good…natured woman in the world lives
here。 She is our laundressmarried to a stupid young fellow
named Molly; and blessed with a plump baby as sweet…tempered at
herself。 Thinking it likely that the piteous voice which had
disturbed me might be the voice of Mrs。 Molly; I was astonished
to hear her appealing to anybody (perhaps to me?) to 〃let her
in。〃 So I passed through the shrubbery; wondering whether the
gate had been locked during my absence in London。 No; it was as
easy to open as ever。
The cottage door was not closed。
I saw our amiable laundress in the passage; on her knees; trying
to open an inner door which seemed to be locked。 She had her eye
at the keyhole; and; once again; she called out: 〃Please; miss;
let me in。〃 I waited to see if the door would be openednothing
happened。 I waited again; to hear if some person inside would
answernobody spoke。 But somebody; or something; made a sound of
splashing water on the other side of the door。
I showed myself; and asked what was the matter。
Mrs。 Molly looked at me helplessly。 She said: 〃Miss Eunice; it's
the baby。〃
〃What has the baby done?〃 I inquired。
Mrs。 Molly got on her feet; and whispered in my ear: 〃You know
he's a fine child?〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well; miss; he's bewitched a lady。〃
〃What lady?〃
〃Miss Jillgall。〃
The very person I had been trying to find! I asked where she was。
The laundress pointed dolefully to the locked door: 〃In there。〃
〃And where is your baby?〃
The poor woman still pointed to the door: 〃I'm beginning to
doubt; miss; whether it is my baby。〃
〃Nonsense; Mrs。 Molly。 If it isn't yours; whose baby can it be?〃
〃Miss Jillgall's。〃
Her puzzled face made this singular reply more funny still。 The
splashing of water on the other side of the door began again。
〃What is Miss Jillgall doing now?〃 I said。
〃Washing the baby; miss。 A week ago; she came in here; one
morning; very pleasant and kind; I must own。 She found me putting
on the baby's things。 She says: 'What a cherub!' which I took as
a compliment。 She says: 'I shall call again to…morrow。' She
called again so early that she found the baby in his crib。 'You
be a good soul;' she says; 'and go about your work; and leave the
child to me。' I says: 'Yes; miss; but please to wait till I've
made him fit to be seen。' She says: 'That's just what I mean to
do myself。' I stared; and I think any other person would have
done the same in my place。 'If there's one thing more than
another I enjoy;' she says; 'it's making myself useful。 Mrs。
Molly; I've taken a fancy to your boy…baby;' she says; 'and I
mean to make myself useful to _him。_' If you will believe me;
Miss Jillgall has only let me have one opportunity of putting my
own child tidy。 She was late this morning; and I got my chance;
and had the boy on my lap; drying himwhen in she burst like a
blast of wind; and snatched the baby away from me。 'This is your
nasty temper;' she says; 'I declare I'm ashamed of you!' And
there she is; with the door locked against me; washing the child
all over again herself。 Twice I've knocked; and asked her to let
me in; and can't even get an answer。 They do say there's luck in
odd numbers; suppose I try again?〃 Mrs。 Molly knocked; and the
proverb proved to be true; she got an answer from Miss Jillgall
at last: 〃If you don't be quiet and go away; you shan't have the
baby back at all。〃 Who could help it?I burst out laughing。 Miss
Jillgall (as I supposed from the tone of her voice) took severe
notice of this act of impropriety。 〃Who's that laughing?〃 she
called out; 〃give yourself a name。〃 I gave my name。 The door was
instantly thrown open with a bang。 Papa's cousin appeared; in a
disheveled state; with splashes of soap and water all over her。
She held the child in one arm; and she threw the other arm round
my neck。 〃Dearest Euneece; I have been longing to