csf.thecommodore-第1节

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　Captain　Sir　Horatio　Hornblower　sat　in　his　bath；　regarding　with　distaste　his　legs　dangling　over　the　end。　They　were　thin　and　hairy；　and　recalled　to　his　mind　the　legs　of　the　spiders　he　had　seen　in　Central　America。　It　was　hard　to　think　about　anything　except　his　legs；　seeing　how　much　they　were　forced　upon　his　attention　by　their　position　under　his　nose　as　he　sat　in　this　ridiculous　bath；　they　hung　out　at　one　end　while　his　body　protruded　from　the　water　at　the　other。　It　was　only　the　middle　portion　of　him；　from　his　waist　to　above　his　knees；　which　was　submerged；　and　that　was　bent　almost　double。　Hornblower　found　it　irritating　to　have　to　take　a　bath　in　this　fashion；　although　he　tried　not　to　allow　it　to　irritate　him；　and　he　strove　desperately　to　dismiss　from　his　mind　recollections　of　thousands　of　more　fortable　baths　taken　on　the　deck　of　a　ship；　under　a　wash…deck　pump　which　threw　over　him　unlimited　quantities　of　stimulating　sea…water。　He　seized　his　soap　and　flannel；　and　began　viciously　to　wash　those　parts　of　himself　above　the　surface；　and　as　he　did　so　water　slopped　in　quantities　over　the　side　on　to　the　polished　oak　floor　of　his　dressing…room。　That　meant　trouble　for　a　housemaid；　and　in　Hornblower's　present　mood　he　was　glad　to　cause　trouble。
　He　rose　awkwardly　to　his　feet　in　the　bath；　water　flying　in　all　directions；　soaped　and　washed　off　the　middle　of　himself；　and　yelled　for　Brown。　Brown　came　in　at　once　from　the　bedroom；　although　a　good　servant　would　have　sensed　his　master's　mood　and　delayed　for　a　second　or　two　so　as　to　be　sworn　at。　He　hung　a　warm　towel　over　Hornblower's　shoulders；　dexterously　preventing　the　ends　from　dipping　into　the　water　as　Hornblower　stepped　out　of　the　soapy　mess　and　walked　across　the　floor　leaving　upon　it　a　trail　of　drops　and　wet　footprints。　Hornblower　towelled　himself　and　stared　gloomily　through　the　door　into　the　bedroom　at　the　clothes　which　Brown　had　laid　out　for　him　there。
　〃It's　a　lovely　morning；　sir；〃　said　Brown。
　〃God　damn　your　eyes；〃　said　Hornblower。
　He　would　have　to　put　on　that　damned　suit　of　buff　and　blue；　the　varnished　boots　and　the　gold　fob；　he　had　never　worn　that　suit　before；　and　he　had　hated　it　when　the　tailor　tried　it　on　him；　hated　it　when　his　wife　admired　it；　and　he　supposed　he　would　go　on　hating　it　for　the　rest　of　his　days　and　still　have　to　wear　it。　His　hatred　was　a　double　one；　firstly　a　simple；　blind；　unreasoning　hatred；　and　secondly　a　hatred　for　a　suit　which　he　was　quite　sure　did　not　properly　set　off　his　looks；　making　him　appear　absurd　instead　of　merely　plain。　He　pulled　the　two…guinea　linen　shirt　over　his　head；　and　then　with　infinite　trouble　dragged　the　tight　buff　trousers　up　over　his　legs。　They　fitted　him　like　a　skin；　and　it　was　only　when　they　were　fully　on；　and　Brown　had　slipped　behind　him　and　hauled　the　waistband　taut；　that　he　realized　that　he　had　not　yet　put　on　his　stockings。　To　take　the　trousers　off　again　would　be　to　admit　a　mistake；　and　he　refused　to　do　so；　ripping　out　another　oath　at　Brown's　suggestion。　Philosophically　Brown　knelt　and　rolled　up　the　tight　trouser　legs；　but　they　would　not　roll　even　as　far　as　the　knee；　making　it　hopeless　to　try　to　put　on　the　long　stockings。
　〃Cut　the　tops　off　the　damned　things！〃　spluttered　Hornblower。
　Brown；　kneeling　on　the　floor；　rolled　a　protesting　eye　up　at　him；　but　what　he　saw　in　Hornblower's　face　cut　short　anything　he　had　in　mind　to　say。　In　disciplined　silence　Brown　obeyed　orders；　bringing　the　scissors　from　the　dressing…table。　Snip；　snip；　snip！　The　tops　of　the　stockings　fell　to　the　floor；　and　Hornblower　put　his　feet　into　the　mutilated　ends　and　felt　the　first　satisfaction　of　the　day　as　Brown　rolled　down　the　trousers　over　them。　The　fates　might　be　against　him；　by　God；　but　he　would　show　them　that　he　still　had　a　will　of　his　own。　He　crammed　his　feet　into　the　varnished　boots　and　refrained　from　swearing　at　their　tightness　…　he　remembered　guiltily　that　he　had　been　weak　with　the　fashionable　bootmaker　and　had　not　insisted　on　fort；　not　with　his　wife　standing　by　to　see　that　the　dictates　of　fashion　were　obeyed。
　He　stumped　across　to　the　dressing…table　and　tied　his　neckcloth；　and　Brown　buckled　his　stock。　The　ridiculous　thing　brushed　his　ears　as　he　turned　his　head　and　his　neck　felt　as　if　it　were　being　stretched　to　double　its　length。　He　had　never　been　more　unfortable　in　his　life；　he　would　never　draw　an　easy　breath　while　wearing　this　damned　choker　which　Brummell　and　the　Prince　Regent　had　made　fashionable。　He　slipped　on　the　flowered　waistcoat　…　blue　sprigged　with　pink　…　and　then　the　broadcloth　coat；　buff；　with　big　blue　buttons；　the　inside　of　the　pocket　flaps　and　the　reverse　of　the　lapels　and　collar　were　of　a　matching　blue。　For　twenty　years　Hornblower　had　worn　nothing　except　uniform；　and　the　image　that　the　mirror　reflected　back　to　his　jaundiced　eyes　was　unnatural；　grotesque；　ridiculous。　Uniform　was　forting　…　no　one　could　blame　him　if　it　did　not　suit　him；　because　he　had　to　wear　it。　But　with　civilian　clothes　he　was　presumed　to　display　his　own　taste　and　choice　…　even　though　he　was　a　married　man　…　and　people　could　laugh　at　him　for　what　he　wore。　Brown　attached　the　gold　watch　to　the　fob；　and　forced　it　into　the　pocket。　It　made　an　unsightly　bulge　there；　over　his　belly；　but　Hornblower　furiously　put　aside　the　idea　of　going　without　a　watch　so　as　to　allow　his　clothes　to　fit　better。　He　stuffed　into　his　sleeve　the　linen　handkerchief　which　Brown　handed　him　after　shaking　scent　on　to　it；　and　then　he　was　ready。
　〃That's　a　beautiful　suit；　sir；〃　said　Brown。
　〃Beautiful　rubbish！〃　said　Hornblower。
　He　stumped　back　across　the　dressing…room　and　knocked　on　the　farther　door。
　〃e　in；〃　said　his　wife's　voice。
　Barbara　was　still　sitting　in　her　bath；　her　legs　dangling　over　the　edge　just　as　his　own　had　done。
　〃How　handsome　you　look；　dear；〃　said　Barbara。　〃It's　a　refreshing　change　to　see　you　out　of　uniform。〃
　Even　Barbara；　the　nicest　woman　in　the　world；　was　not　free　of　the　besetting　sin　of　womankind；　approving　of　change　merely　because　it　was　change；　but　Hornblower　did　not　answer　her　as　he　answered　Brown。
　〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　trying　desperately　to　sound　gracious　as　he　said　it。
　〃My　towel；　Hebe；〃　said　Barbara。　The　little　Negro　maid　came　gliding　forward；　and　wrapped　her　up　as　she　stepped　out　of　the　hip…bath。
　〃Venus　rises　from　the　waves；〃　said　Hornblower　gallantly。　He　was　doing　his　best　to　fight　down　the　feeling　of　awkwardness　which　possessed　him　when　he　saw　his　wife　naked　in　the　presence　of　another　woman；　even　though　Hebe　was　a　mere　servant；　and　coloured。
　〃I　expect；〃　said　Barbara；　standing　while　Hebe　patted　the　towel　to　her　skin　to　dry　her；　〃the　village　has　already　heard　of　this　strange　habit　of　ours　of　taking　baths　every　day。　I　can　hardly　imagine　what　they　think　of　it。〃
　Hornblower　could　imagine；　he　had　been　a　village　boy　himself；　once。　Barbara　threw　off　the　towel　and　stood　naked　again　for　a　moment　as　Hebe　passed　her　silk　shift　over　her　head。　Women；　once　the　barriers　were　down；　really　had　no　sense　of　decency；　and　Barbara　in　that　transparent　shift　was　even　more　shocking　than　when　she　was　naked。　She　sat　at　the　dressing…table　and　set　to　work　to　cream　her　face　while　Hebe　brushed　her　hair；　there　were　a　myriad　pots　and　jars　on　the　dressing…table　and　Barbara　took　ingredients　from　one　after　the　other　as　though　pounding　a　witches'　brew。
　〃I'm　glad　to　see；〃　said　Barbara；　inspecting　her　reflection　closely；　〃that　the　sun　is　shining。　It　is　well　to　have　a　fine　day　for　this　morning's　ceremony。〃
　The　thought　of　the　ceremony　had　been　in　Hornblower's　mind　ever　since　he　woke　up；　it　could　not　be　said　that　he　disliked　the　prospect；　but　he　was　not　fortable　about　it。　It　would　be　the　first　landmark　in　a　new　way　of　life；　and　Hornblower　felt　a　not　unnatural　distrust　of　his　own　reactions　to　the　change。　Barbara　was　studying　the　reflection　of　his　face　in　her　mirror。
　〃Wele　to　the　new　Squire　of　Smallbridge；〃　she　said；　and　smiled；　turning　towards　him。
　The　smile　transformed　not　only　her　expression　but　Hornblower's　whole　mental　outlook　as　well。　Barbara　ceased　to　be　the　great　lady；　the　earl's　daughter　with　the　bluest　blood　of　the　aristocracy　in　her　veins；　whose　perfect　poise　and　aplomb　always　afflicted　Hornblower　with　the　diffidence　he　detested；　instead　she　became　the　woman　who　had　stood　unfrightened　beside　him　upon　the　shot…torn　decks　of　the　Lydia　in　the　Pacific；　the　woman　who　throbbed　with　love　in　his　arms；　the　beloved　panion　and　the　panionable　lover。　Hornblower's　heart　went　out　to　her　on　the　instant。　He　would　have　taken　her　in　his　arms　and　kissed　her　if　it　had　not　been　that　Hebe　was　in　the　room。　But　Barbara's　eyes　met　his　and　read　in　them　what　was　in　his　mind。　She　smiled　another　smile　at　him；　they　were　in　perfect　accord；　with　secrets　shared　between　them；　and　the　world　was　a　brighter　place　for　both　of　them。
　Barbara　pulled　on　a　pair　of　white　silk　stockings；　and　knotted　above　her　knees　the　scarlet　silk　garters。　Hebe　stood　ready　with　her　gown；　and　Barbara　dived　into　it。　The　gown　flapped　and　billowed　as　Barbara　made　her　way　into　it；　and　then　at　last　she　emerged；　her　arms　waving　as　they　pushed　into　the　sleeves；　and　her　hair　tousled。　No　one　could　be　a　great　lady　in　those　conditions；　and　Hornblower　loved　her　more　dearly　than　ever。　Hebe　settled　the　gown　about　her　mistress；　and　hung　a　lace　cape　over　her　sh