the golden age(金色时代)-第27节
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be no drawing back from the bargain； and then； as the things had to be
taken out of the window and packed； and the afternoon was yet young； he
thought he might treat himself to a taste of urban joys and la vie de
Boheme。 Shops came first； of course； and he flattened his nose
successively against the window with the india…rubber balls in it； and the
clock…work locomotive； and against the barber's window； with wigs on
blocks； reminding him of uncles； and shaving…cream that looked so good
to eat； and the grocer's window； displaying more currants than the whole
British population could possibly consume without a special effort； and
the window of the bank； wherein gold was thought so little of that it was
dealt about in shovels。 Next there was the market… place； with all its
clamorous joys； and when a runaway calf came down the street like a
cannon…ball； Harold felt that he had not lived in vain。 The whole place
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was so brimful of excitement that he had quite forgotten the why and the
wherefore of his being there； when a sight of the church clock recalled him
to his better self； and sent him flying out of the town； as he realised he had
only just time enough left to get back in。 If he were after his appointed
hour； he would not only miss his high triumph； but probably would be
detected as a transgressor of bounds；a crime before which a private
opinion on multiplication sank to nothingness。 So he jogged along on his
homeward way； thinking of many things； and probably talking to himself a
good deal； as his habit was； and had covered nearly half the distance； when
suddenlya deadly sinking in the pit of his stomacha paralysis of every
limbaround him a world extinct of light and musica black sun and a
reeling skyhe had forgotten the tea… things！
It was useless； it was hopeless； all was over； and nothing could now be
done； nevertheless he turned and ran back wildly； blindly； choking with
the big sobs that evoked neither pity nor comfort from a merciless
mocking world around； a stitch in his side； dust in his eyes； and black
despair clutching at his heart。 So he stumbled on； with leaden legs and
bursting sides； tillas if Fate had not yet dealt him her last worst buffet
on turning a corner in the road he almost ran under the wheels of a dog…
cart； in which； as it pulled up； was apparent the portly form of Farmer
Larkin； the arch…enemy； whose ducks he had been shying stones at that
very morning！
Had Harold been in his right and unclouded senses； he would have
vanished through the hedge some seconds earlier； rather than pain the
farmer by any unpleasant reminiscences which his appearance might call
up； but as things were； he could only stand and blubber hopelessly； caring；
indeed； little now what further ill might befall him。 The farmer； for his
part； surveyed the desolate figure with some astonishment； calling out in
no unfriendly accents； 〃Why； Master Harold！ whatever be the matter？
Baint runnin' away； be ee？〃
Then Harold； with the unnatural courage born of desperation； flung
himself on the step； and climbing into the cart； fell in the straw at the
bottom of it； sobbing out that he wanted to go back； go back！ The
situation had a vagueness； but the farmer； a man of action rather than
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words； swung his horse round smartly； and they were in the town again by
the time Harold had recovered himself sufficiently to furnish some details。
As they drove up to the shop； the woman was waiting at the door with the
parcel； and hardly a minute seemed to have elapsed since the black crisis；
ere they were bowling along swiftly home； the precious parcel hugged in a
close embrace。
And now the farmer came out in quite a new and unexpected light。
Never a word did he say of broken fences and hurdles； of trampled crops
and harried flocks and herds。 One would have thought the man had
never possessed a head of live stock in his life。 Instead； he was deeply
interested in the whole dolorous quest of the tea…things； and sympathised
with Harold on the disputed point in mathematics as if he had been
himself at the same stage of education。 As they neared home； Harold
found himself； to his surprise； sitting up and chatting to his new friend like
man to man； and before he was dropped at a convenient gap in the garden
hedge； he had promised that when Selina gave her first public tea…party；
little Miss Larkin should be invited to come and bring ha whole sawdust
family along with her； and the farmer appeared as pleased and proud as if
he hat been asked to a garden…party at Marlborough House。 Really； those
Olympians have certain good points； far down in them。 I shall have to
leave off abusing them some day。
At the hour of five； Selina； having spent the afternoon searching for
Harold in all his accustomed haunts； sat down disconsolately to tea with
her dolls； who ungenerously refused to wait beyond the appointed hour。
The wooden tea…things seemed more chipped than usual； and the dolls
themselves had more of wax and sawdust； and less of human colour and
intelligence about them； than she ever remembered before。 It was then
that Harold burst in； very dusty； his stockings at his heels； and the channels
ploughed by tears still showing on his grimy cheeks； and Selina was at last
permitted to know that he had been thinking of her ever since his ill…
judged exhibition of temper； and that his sulks had not been the genuine
article； nor had he gone frogging by himself。 It was a very happy hostess
who dispensed hospitality that evening to a glassy…eyed stiff…kneed circle；
and many a dollish gaucherie； that would have been severely checked on
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ordinary occasions； was as much overlooked as if it had been a birthday。
But Harold and I； in our stupid masculine way； thought all her
happiness sprang from possession of the long…coveted tea… service。
〃LUSISTI SATIS 〃
Among the many fatuous ideas that possessed the Olympian noddle；
this one was pre…eminent； that； being Olympians； they could talk quite
freely in our presence on subjects of the closest import to us； so long as
names； dates； and other landmarks were ignored。 We were supposed to
be denied the faculty for putting two and two together； and； like the
monkeys； who very sensibly refrain from speech lest they should be set to
earn their livings； we were careful to conceal our capabilities for a simple
syllogism。 Thus we were rarely taken by surprise； and so were
considered by our disappointed elders to be apathetic and to lack the
divine capacity for wonder。
Now the daily output of the letter…bag； with the mysterious discussions
that ensued thereon； had speedily informed us that Uncle Thomas was
intrusted with a mission；a mission； too； affecting ourselves。 Uncle
Thomas's missions were many and various； a self…important man； one
liking the business while protesting that he sank under the burden； he was
the missionary； so to speak； of our remote habitation。 The matching a
ribbon； the running down to the stores； the interviewing a cook；these and
similar duties lent constant colour and variety to his vacant life in London
and helped to keep down his figure。 When the matter； however； had in
our presence to be referred to with nods and pronouns； with significant
hiatuses and interpolations in the French tongue； then the red flag was
flown； the storm…con
