the golden age(金色时代)-第9节
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dear！ I've got to the end already； and I hadn't begun hardly！ I never can
make my stories last out！ Never mind； I'll tell you another one。〃
Jerry didn't seem to care； now he had gained his end； whether the
stories lasted out or not。 He was nestling against Rosa's plump form with
a look of satisfaction that was simply idiotic； and one arm had disappeared
from viewwas it round her waist？ Rosa's natural blush seemed deeper
than usual； her head inclined shyly it must have been round her waist。
〃If it wasn't so near your bedtime；〃 continued Charlotte； reflectively；
〃I'd tell you a nice story with a bogy in it。 But you'd be frightened； and
you'd dream of bogies all night。 So I'll tell you one about a White Bear；
only you mustn't scream when the bear says ‘Wow；' like I used to； 'cos he's
a good bear really〃
Here Rosa fell flat on her back in the deadest of faints。 Her limbs
were rigid； her eyes glassy； what had Jerry been doing？ It must have
been something very bad； for her to take on like that。 I scrutinised him
carefully； while Charlotte ran to comfort the damsel。 He appeared to be
whistling a tune and regarding the scenery。 If I only possessed Jerry's
command of feature； I thought to myself； half regretfully； I would never be
found out in anything。
〃It's all your fault； Jerry；〃 said Charlotte； reproachfully； when the lady
had been restored to consciousness： 〃Rosa's as good as gold； except
when you make her wicked。 I'd put you in the corner； only a stump
hasn't got a cornerwonder why that is？ Thought everything had corners。
Never mind； you'll have to sit with your face to the wallSO。 Now you
can sulk if you like！〃
Jerry seemed to hesitate a moment between the bliss of indulgence in
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sulks with a sense of injury； and the imperious summons of beauty waiting
to be wooed at his elbow； then； carried away by his passion； he fell
sideways across Rosa's lap。 One arm stuck stiffly upwards； as in
passionate protestation； his amorous countenance was full of entreaty。
Rosa hesitatedwaveredand yielded； crushing his slight frame under the
weight of her full… bodied surrender。
Charlotte had stood a good deal； but it was possible to abuse even her
patience。 Snatching Jerry from his lawless embraces； she reversed him
across her knee； and thenthe outrage offered to the whole superior sex in
Jerry's hapless person was too painful to witness； but though I turned my
head away； the sound of brisk slaps continued to reach my tingling ears。
When I looked again； Jerry was sitting up as before； his garment；
somewhat crumpled； was restored to its original position； but his pallid
countenance was set hard。 Knowing as I did； only too well； what a
volcano of passion and shame must be seething under that impassive
exterior； for the moment I felt sorry for him。
Rosa's face was still buried in her frock； it might have been shame； it
might have been grief for Jerry's sufferings。 But the callous Japanese
never even looked her way。 His heart was exceeding bitter within him。
In merely following up his natural impulses he had run his head against
convention； and learnt how hard a thing it was； and the sunshiny world
was all black to him。
Even Charlotte softened somewhat at the sight of his rigid misery。 〃If
you'll say you're sorry。 Jerome；〃 she said； 〃I'll say I'm sorry； too。〃
Jerry only dropped his shoulders against the stump and stared out in
the direction of his dear native Japan； where love was no sin； and
smacking had not been introduced。 Why had he ever left it？ He would
go back to…morrowand yet there were obstacles： another grievance。
Nature； in endowing Jerry with every grace of form and feature； along
with a sensitive soul； had somehow forgotten the gift of locomotion。
There was a crackling in the bushes behind me； with sharp short pants
as of a small steam…engine； and Rollo； the black retriever； just released
from his chain by some friendly hand； burst through the underwood；
seeking congenial company。 I joyfully hailed him to stop and be a
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panther； but he sped away round the pond； upset Charlotte with a
boisterous caress； and seizing Jerry by the middle； disappeared with him
down the drive。 Charlotte raved； panting behind the swift…footed avenger
of crime； Rosa lay dishevelled； bereft of consciousness； Jerry himself
spread helpless arms to heaven； and I almost thought I heard a cry for
mercy； a tardy promise of amendment； but it was too late。 The Black
Man had got Jerry at last； and though the tear of sensibility might moisten
the eye； no one who really knew him could deny the justice of his fate。
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〃YOUNG ADAM CUPID〃
NO one would have suspected Edward of being in love； but that after
breakfast； with an over…acted carelessness； 〃Anybody who likes；〃 he said；
〃can feed my rabbits；〃 and he disappeared； with a jauntiness that deceived
nobody； in the direction of the orchard。 Now； kingdoms might totter and
reel； and convulsions change the map of Europe； but the iron unwritten
law prevailed； that each boy severely fed his own rabbits。 There was
good ground； then； for suspicion and alarm； and while the lettuce… leaves
were being drawn through the wires； Harold and I conferred seriously on
the situation。
It may be thought that the affair was none of our business； and indeed
we cared little as individuals。 We were only concerned as members of a
corporation； for each of whom the mental or physical ailment of one of his
fellows might have far…reaching effects。 It was thought best that Harold；
as least open to suspicion of motive； should be despatched to probe and
peer。 His instructions were； to proceed by a report on the health of our
rabbits in particular； to glide gently into a discussion on rabbits in general；
their customs； practices； and vices； to pass thence； by a natural transition；
to the female sex； the inherent flaws in its composition； and the reasons for
regarding it （speaking broadly） as dirt。 He was especially to be very
diplomatic； and then to return and report progress。 He departed on his
mission gaily； but his absence was short； and his return； discomfited and in
tears； seemed to betoken some want of parts for diplomacy。 He had
found Edward； it appeared； pacing the orchard； with the sort of set smile
that mountebanks wear in their precarious antics； fixed painfully on his
face； as with pins。 Harold had opened well； on the rabbit subject； but；
with a fatal confusion between the abstract and the concrete； had then
gone on to remark that Edward's lop…eared doe； with her long hindlegs and
contemptuous twitch of the nose； always reminded him of Sabina Larkin
（a nine… year…old damsel； child of a neighbouring farmer）： at which point
Edward； it would seem； had turned upon and savagely maltreated him；
twisting his arm and punching him in the short ribs。 So that Harold
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returned to the rabbit…hutches preceded by long…drawn wails： anon
wishing； with sobs； that he were a man； to kick his love…lorn brother： anon
lamenting that ever he had been born。
I was not big enough to stand up to Edward personally； so I had to
console the sufferer by allowing him to grease the
