armadale-第67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！


approvingly　on　the　shoulder；　and　even　Mrs。　Pentecost；　when　the
whole　party　were　comfortably　established　on　board；　took　a
comparatively　cheerful　view　of　the　prospects　of　the　picnic。　〃If
anything　happens；〃　said　the　old　lady；　addressing　the　company
gener　ally；　〃there's　one　comfort　for　all　of　us。　My　son　can　swim。〃

The　boat　floated　out　from　the　creek　into　the　placid　waters　of　the
Broad；　and　the　full　beauty　of　the　scene　opened　on　the　view。

On　the　northward　and　westward；　as　the　boat　reached　the　middle　of
the　lake；　the　shore　lay　clear　and　low　in　the　sunshine；　fringed
darkly　at　certain　points　by　rows　of　dwarf　trees；　and　dotted　here
and　there；　in　the　opener　spaces；　with　windmills　and　reed…thatched
cottages；　of　puddled　mud。　Southward；　the　great　sheet　of　water
narrowed　gradually　to　a　little　group　of　close…nestling　islands
which　closed　the　prospect；　while　to　the　east　a　long；　gently
undulating　line　of　reeds　followed　the　windings　of　the　Broad；　and
shut　out　all　view　of　the　watery　wastes　beyond。　So　clear　and　so
light　was　the　summer　air　that　the　one　cloud　in　the　eastern
quarter　of　the　heaven　was　the　smoke　cloud　left　by　a　passing
steamer　three　miles　distant　and　more　on　the　invisible　sea。　When
the　voices　of　the　pleasure　party　were　still；　not　a　sound　rose；
far　or　near；　but　the　faint　ripple　at　the　bows；　as　the　men；　with
slow；　deliberate　strokes　of　their　long　poles；　pressed　the　boat
forward　softly　over　the　shallow　water。　The　world　and　the　world's
turmoil　seemed　left　behind　forever　on　the　land；　the　silence　was
the　silence　of　enchantmentthe　delicious　interflow　of　the　soft
purity　of　the　sky　and　the　bright　tranquillity　of　the　lake。

Established　in　perfect　comfort　in　the　boatthe　major　and　his
daughter　on　one　side；　the　curate　and　his　mother　on　the　other；　and
Allan　and　young　Pedgift　between　the　twothe　water　party　floated
smoothly　toward　the　little　nest　of　islands　at　the　end　of　the
Broad。　Miss　Milroy　was　in　raptures；　Allan　was　delighted；　and　the
major　for　once　forgot　his　clock。　Every　one　felt　pleasurably；　in
their　different　ways；　the　quiet　and　beauty　of　the　scene。　Mrs。
Pentecost；　in　her　way；　felt　it　like　a　clairvoyantwith　closed
eyes。

〃Look　behind　you；　Mr。　Armadale；〃　whispered　young　Pedgift。　〃I
think　the　parson's　beginning　to　enjoy　himself。〃

An　unwonted　brisknessportentous　apparently　of　coming
speechdid　certainly　at　that　moment　enliven　the　curate's　manner。
He　jerked　his　head　from　side　to　side　like　a　bird；　he　cleared　his
throat；　and　clasped　his　hands；　and　looked　with　a　gentle　interest
at　the　company。　Getting　into　spirits　seemed；　in　the　case　of　this
excellent　person；　to　be　alarmingly　like　getting　into　the　pulpit。

〃Even　in　this　scene　of　tranquillity；〃　said　the　Reverend　Samuel；
coming　out　softly　with　his　first　contribution　to　the　society　in
the　shape　of　a　remark；　〃the　Christian　mindled；　so　to　speak；
from　one　extreme　to　anotheris　forcibly　recalled　to　the　unstable
nature　of　all　earthly　enjoyments。　How　if　this　calm　should　not
last？　How　if　the　winds　rose　and　the　waters　became　agitated？〃

〃You　needn't　alarm　yourself　about　that；　sir；〃　said　young　Pedgift；
〃June's　the　fine　season　hereand　you　can　swim。〃

Mrs。　Pentecost　（mesmerically　affected；　in　all　probability；　by　the
near　neighborhood　of　her　son）　opened　her　eyes　suddenly　and　asked；
with　her　customary　eagerness。　〃What　does　my　boy　say？〃

The　Reverend　Samuel　repeated　his　words　in　the　key　that　suited　his
mother's　infirmity。　The　old　lady　nodded　in　high　approval；　and
pursued　her　son's　train　of　thought　through　the　medium　of　a
quotation。

〃Ah！〃　sighed　Mrs。　Pentecost；　with　infinite　relish；　〃He　rides　the
whirlwind；　Sammy；　and　directs　the　storm！〃

〃Noble　words！〃　said　the　Reverend　Samuel。　〃Noble　and　consoling
words！〃

〃I　say；〃　whispered　Allan；　〃if　he　goes　on　much　longer　in　that　way；
what's　to　be　done？〃

〃I　told　you；　papa；　it　was　a　risk　to　ask　them；〃　added　Miss　Milroy；
in　another　whisper。

〃My　dear！〃　remonstrated　the　major。　〃We　knew　nobody　else　in　the
neighborhood；　and；　as　Mr。　Armadale　kindly　suggested　our　bringing
our　friends；　what　could　we　do？〃

〃We　can't　upset　the　boat；〃　remarked　young　Pedgift；　with　sardonic
gravity。　〃It's　a　lifeboat；　unfortunately。　May　I　venture　to
suggest　putting　something　into　the　reverend　gentleman's　mouth；
Mr。　Armadale？　It's　close　on　three　o'clock。　What　do　you　say　to
ringing　the　dinner…bell；　sir？〃

Never　was　the　right　man　more　entirely　in　the　right　place　than
Pedgift　Junior　at　the　picnic。　In　ten　minutes　more　the　boat　was
brought　to　a　stand…still　among　the　reeds；　the　Thorpe　Ambrose
hampers　were　unpacked　on　the　roof　of　the　cabin；　and　the　current
of　the　curate's　eloquence　was　checked　for　the　day。

How　inestimably　important　in　its　moral　resultsand　therefore　how
praiseworthy　in　itselfis　the　act　of　eating　and　drinking！　The
social　virtues　center　in　the　stomach。　A　man　who　is　not　a　better
husband；　father；　and　brother　after　dinner　than　before　is；
digestively　speaking；　an　incurably　vicious　man。　What　hidden
charms　of　character　disclose　themselves；　what　dormant
amiabilities　awaken；　when　our　common　humanity　gathers　together　to
pour　out　the　gastric　juice！　At　the　opening　of　the　hampers　from
Thorpe　Ambrose；　sweet　Sociability　（offspring　of　the　happy　union
of　Civilization　and　Mrs。　Gripper）　exhaled　among　the　boating
party；　and　melted　in　one　friendly　fusion　the　discordant　elements
of　which　that　party　had　hitherto　been　composed。　Now　did　the
Reverend　Samuel　Pentecost；　whose　light　had　hitherto　been　hidden
under　a　bushel；　prove　at　last　that　he　could　do　something　by
proving　that　he　could　eat。　Now　did　Pedgift　Junior　shine　brighter
than　ever　he　had　shone　yet　in　gems　of　caustic　humor　and　exquisite
fertilities　of　resource。　Now　did　the　squire；　and　the　squire's
charming　guest；　prove　the　triple　connection　between　Champagne
that　sparkles；　Love　that　grows　bolder；　and　Eyes　whose　vocabulary
is　without　the　word　No。　Now　did　cheerful　old　times　come　back　to
the　major's　memory；　and　cheerful　old　stories　not　told　for　years
find　their　way　to　the　major's　lips。　And　now　did　Mrs。　Pentecost；
coming　out　wakefully　in　the　whole　force　of　her　estimable　maternal
character；　seize　on　a　supplementary　fork；　and　ply　that　useful
instrument　incessantly　between　the　choicest　morsels　in　the　whole
round　of　dishes；　and　the　few　vacant　places　left　available　on　the
Reverend　Samuel's　plate。　〃Don't　laugh　at　my　son；〃　cried　the　old
lady；　observing　the　merriment　which　her　proceedings　produced
among　the　company。　〃It's　my　fault；　poor　dear_I_　make　him　eat！〃
And　there　are　men　in　this　world　who；　seeing　virtues　such　as　these
developed　at　the　table；　as　they　are　developed　nowhere　else；　can；
nevertheless；　rank　the　glorious　privilege　of　dining　with　the
smallest　of　the　diurnal　personal　worries　which　necessity　imposes
on　mankindwith　buttoning　your　waistcoat；　for　example；　or　lacing
your　stays！　Trust　no　such　monster　as　this　with　your　tender
secrets；　your　loves　and　hatreds；　your　hopes　and　fears。　His　heart
is　uncorrected　by　his　stomach；　and　the　social　virtues　are　not　in
him。

The　last　mellow　hours　of　the　day　and　the　first　cool　breezes　of
the　long　summer　evening　had　met　before　the　dishes　were　all　laid
waste；　and　the　bottles　as　empty　as　bottles　should　be。　This　point
in　the　proceedings　attained；　the　picnic　party　looked　lazily　at
Pedgift　Junior　to　know　what　was　to　be　done　next。　That
inexhaustible　functionary　was　equal　as　ever　to　all　the　calls　on
him。　He　had　a　new　amusement　ready　before　the　quickest　of　the
company　could　so　much　as　ask　him　what　that　amusement　was　to　be。

〃Fond　of　music　on　the　water；　Miss　Milroy？〃　he　asked；　in　his
airiest　and　pleasantest　manner。

Miss　Milroy　adored　music；　both　on　the　water　and　the　landalways
excepting　the　one　case　when　she　was　practicing　the　art　herself　on
the　piano　at　home。

〃We'll　get　out　of　the　reeds　first；〃　said　young　Pedgift。　He　gave
his　orders　to　the　boatmen；　dived　briskly　into　the　little　cabin；
and　reappeared　with　a　concertina　in　his　hand。　〃Neat；　Miss　Milroy；
isn't　it？〃　he　observed；　pointing　to　his　initials；　inlaid　on　the
instrument　in　mother…of…pearl。　〃My　name's　Augustus；　like　my
father's。　Some　of　my　friends　knock　off　the　'A；'　and　call　me
'Gustus　Junior。'　A　small　joke　goes　a　long　way　among　friends；
doesn't　it；　Mr。　Armadale？　I　sing　a　little　to　my　own
accompaniment；　ladies　and　gentlemen；　and；　if　quite　agreeable；　I
shall　be　proud　and　happy　to　do　my　best。〃

〃Stop！〃　cried　Mrs。　Pentecost；　〃I　dote　on　music。〃

With　this　formidable　announcement；　the　old　lady　opened　a
prodigious　leather　bag；　from
　which　she　never　parted　night　or　day；　and　took　out　an　ear…trumpet
of　the　old…fashioned　kindsomething　between　a　key…bugle　and　a
French　horn。　〃I　don't　care　to　use　the　thing　generally；〃　explained
Mrs。　Pentecost；　〃because　I'm　afraid　of　its　making　me　deafer　than
ever。　But　I　can't　and　won't　miss　the　music。　I　dote　on　music。　If
you'll　hold　the　other　end；　Sammy；　I'll　stick　it　in　my　ear。
Neelie；　my　dear；　tell　him　to　begin。〃

Young　Pedgift　was　troubled　with　no　nervous　hesitation。　He　began
at　once；　not　with　songs　of　the　light　and　modern　kind；　such　as
might　have　been　expected　from　an　amateur　of　his　age　and
character；　but　with　declamatory　and　patriotic　bursts　of　poetry；
set　to　the　bold　and　blatant　music　which　the　people　of　En