the golden age(金色时代)-第26节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
a Journal of the Unseen； and proceeded laborously to rid himself of much
incomprehensible humour； apparently at our expense。 We bore it
patiently； with the forced grin demanded by convention； anxious to get at
the source of inspiration； which it presently appeared lay in a paragraph
circumstantially describing our modest and humdrum habitation。 〃Case
III。；〃 it began。 〃The following particulars were communicated by a
young member of the Society； of undoubted probity and earnestness； and
are a chronicle of actual and recent experience。〃 A fairly accurate
description of the house followed； with details that were unmistakable； but
to this there succeeded a flood of meaningless drivel about apparitions；
nightly visitants； and the like； writ in a manner betokening a disordered
mind； coupled with a feeble imagination。 The fellow was not even
original。 All the old material was there；the storm at night； the haunted
chamber； the white lady； the murder re…enacted； and so on；already worn
threadbare in many a Christmas Number。 No one was able to make head
or tail of the stuff； or of its connexion with our quiet mansion； and yet
Edward； who had always suspected the man； persisted in maintaining that
our tutor of a brief span was； somehow or other； at the bottom of it。
88
… Page 89…
The Golden Age
Harold told me the main facts of this episode some time later； in bits；
and with reluctance。 It was not a recollection he cared to talk about。
The crude blank misery of a moment is apt to leave a dull bruise which is
slow to depart； if it ever does so entirely； and Harold confesses to a twinge
or two； still； at times； like the veteran who brings home a bullet inside him
from martial plains over sea。
He knew he was a brute the moment he had done it； Selina had not
meant to worry； only to comfort and assist。 But his soul was one raw
sore within him； when he found himself shut up in the schoolroom after
hours； merely for insisting that 7 times 7 amounted to 47。 The injustice
of it seemed so flagrant。 Why not 47 as much as 49？ One number was
no prettier than the other to look at； and it was evidently only a matter of
arbitrary taste and preference； and； anyhow； it had always been 47 to him；
and would be to the end of time。 So when Selina came in out of the sun；
leaving the Trappers or the Far West behind her； and putting off the glory
of being an Apache squaw in order to hear him his tables and win his
release； Harold turned on her venomously； rejected her kindly overtures；
and ever drove his elbow into her sympathetic ribs； in his determination to
be left alone in the glory of sulks。 The fit passed directly； his eyes were
opened； and his soul sat in the dust as he sorrowfully began to cast about
for some atonement heroic enough to salve the wrong。
Of course poor Selina looked for no sacrifice nor heroics whatever：
she didn't even want him to say he was sorry。 If he would only make it
up； she would have done the apologising part herself。 But that was not a
boy's way。 Something solid； Harold felt； was due from him； and until
that was achieved； making…up must not be thought of； in order that the
final effect might not be spoilt。 Accordingly； when his release came； and
poor Selina hung about； trying to catch his eye； Harold； possessed by the
demon of a distorted motive； avoided her steadilythough he was bleeding
inwardly at every minute of delayand came to me instead。 Needless to
say； I approved his plan highly； it was so much more high…toned than just
going and making…up tamely； which any one could do； and a girl who had
been jobbed in the ribs by a hostile elbow could not be expected for a
89
… Page 90…
The Golden Age
moment to overlook it； without the liniment of an offering to soothe her
injured feelings。
〃I know what she wants most；〃 said Harold。 〃She wants that set of
tea…things in the toy…shop window； with the red and blue flowers on 'em；
she's wanted it for months； 'cos her dolls are getting big enough to have
real afternoon tea； and she wants it so badly that she won't walk that side
of the street when we go into the town。 But it costs five shillings！〃
Then we set to work seriously； and devoted the afternoon to a
realisation of assets and the composition of a Budget that might have been
dated without shame from Whitehall。 The result worked out as follows：
s。 d。 By one uncle； unspent through having been lost for nearly
a weekturned up at last in the straw of the dog…kennel 。 。 。 。
2 6
Carry forward；2 6
s。 d。 Brought forward； 2 6 By advance from me on security of
next uncle； and failing that； to be called in at
Christmas 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 1 0 By shaken out of
missionary…box with the help of a knife…blade。 （They were our
own pennies and a forced levy） 。 。 。 。 。 0 4 By bet due from
Edward； for walking across the field where Farmer Larkin's bull was；
and Edward bet him twopence he wouldn't called in with
difficulty 。 。 。 。 。 。 0 2 By advance from Martha； on no security
at all； only you mustn't tell your aunt 。 。 。 1 0
Total 5 0
and at last we breathed again。
The rest promised to be easy。 Selina had a tea…party at five on the
morrow； with the chipped old wooden tea…things that had served her
successive dolls from babyhood。 Harold would slip off directly after
dinner； going alone； so as not to arouse suspicion； as we were not allowed
to go into the town by ourselves。 It was nearly two miles to our small
metropolis； but there would be plenty of time for him to go and return；
even laden with the olive…branch neatly packed in shavings； besides； he
might meet the butcher； who was his friend and would give him a lift。
90
… Page 91…
The Golden Age
Then； finally； at five； the rapture of the new tea… service； descended from
the skies； and； retribution made； making… up at last； without loss of dignity。
With the event before us； we thought it a small thing that twenty…four
hours more of alienation and pretended sulks must be kept up on Harold's
part； but Selina； who naturally knew nothing of the treat in store for her；
moped for the rest of the evening； and took a very heavy heart to bed。
When next day the hour for action arrived； Harold evaded Olympian
attention with an easy modesty born of long practice； and made off for the
front gate。 Selina； who had been keeping her eye upon him； thought he
was going down to the pond to catch frogs； a joy they had planned to share
together； and made after him； but Harold； though he heard her footsteps；
continued sternly on his high mission； without even looking back； and
Selina was left to wander disconsolately among flower…beds that had lost
for her all scent and colour。 I saw it all； and although cold reason
approved our line of action； instinct told me we were brutes。
Harold reached the townso he recounted afterwardsin record time；
having run most of the way for fear the tea…things； which had reposed six
months in the window； should be snapped up by some other conscience…
stricken lacerator of a sister's feelings； and it seemed hardly credible to
find them still there； and their owner willing to part with them for the price
marked on the ticket。 He paid his money down at once； that there should
be no drawing back from the bargain； and then； as the things had to be
taken out of the window and pack
