condensed novels(压缩小说)-第1节
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CONDENSED NOVELS
CONDENSED NOVELS
by BRET HARTE
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CONDENSED NOVELS
HANDSOME IS AS HANDSOME
DOES。
BY CHS RDE。
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CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER I。
The Dodds were dead。 For twenty year they had slept under the green
graves of Kittery churchyard。 The townfolk still spoke of them kindly。 The
keeper of the alehouse； where David had smoked his pipe； regretted him
regularly； and Mistress Kitty； Mrs。 Dodd's maid； whose trim figure always
looked well in her mistress's gowns； was inconsolable。 The Hardins were
in America。 Raby was aristocratically gouty； Mrs。 Raby； religious。 Briefly；
then； we have disposed of
1。 Mr。 and Mrs。 Dodd （dead）。 2。 Mr。 and Mrs。 Hardin （translated）。
3。 Raby； baron et femme。 （Yet I don't know about the former； he came
of a long…lived family； and the gout is an uncertain disease。）
We have active at the present writing （place aux dames）
1。 Lady Caroline Coventry； niece of Sir Frederick。
2。 Faraday Huxley Little； son of Henry and Grace Little； deceased。
Sequitur to the above； A HERO AND HEROINE。
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CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER II。
On the death of his parents； Faraday Little was taken to Raby Hall。 In
accepting his guardianship； Mr。 Raby struggled stoutly against two
prejudices： Faraday was plain…looking and sceptical。
〃Handsome is as handsome does； sweetheart；〃 pleaded Jael；
interceding for the orphan with arms that were still beautiful。 〃Dear knows；
it is not his fault if he does not look likehis father；〃 she added with a
great gulp。 Jael was a woman； and vindicated her womanhood by never
entirely forgiving a former rival。
〃It's not that alone； madam；〃 screamed Raby； 〃but； dm it； the little
rascal's a scientist；an atheist； a radical； a scoffer！ Disbelieves in the Bible；
ma'am； is full of this Darwinian stuff about natural selection and descent。
Descent； forsooth！ In my day； madam； gentlemen were content to trace
their ancestors back to gentlemen； and not tomonkeys！〃
〃Dear heart； the boy is clever；〃 urged Jael。
〃Clever！〃 roared Raby； 〃what does a gentleman want with
cleverness？〃
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CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER III。
Young Little WAS clever。 At seven he had constructed a telescope； at
nine； a flying…machine。 At ten he saved a valuable life。
Norwood Park was the adjacent estate；a lordly domain dotted with
red deer and black trunks； but scrupulously kept with gravelled roads as
hard and blue as steel。 There Little was strolling one summer morning；
meditating on a new top with concealed springs。 At a little distance before
him he saw the flutter of lace and ribbons。 A young lady； a very young
lady；say of seven summers； tricked out in the crying abominations of
the present fashion； stood beside a low bush。 Her nursery…maid was not
present； possibly owing to the fact that John the footman was also absent。
Suddenly Little came towards her。 〃Excuse me； but do you know what
those berries are？〃 He was pointing to the low bush filled with dark
clusters of shiningsuspiciously shiningfruit。
〃Certainly； they are blueberries。〃
〃Pardon me； you are mistaken。 They belong to quite another family。〃
Miss Impudence drew herself up to her full height （exactly three feet
nine and a half inches）； and； curling an eight of an inch of scarlet lip； said；
scornfully。 〃YOUR family； perhaps。〃
Faraday Little smiled in the superiority of boyhood over girlhood。
〃I allude to the classification。 That plant is the belladonna； or deadly
nightshade。 Its alkaloid is a narcotic poison。〃
Sauciness turned pale。 〃Ihavejusteatensome！〃 And began to
whimper。 〃O dear； what shall I do？〃 Then did it； i。 e。 wrung her small
fingers and cried。
〃Pardon me one moment。〃 Little passed his arm around her neck； and
with his thumb opened widely the patrician…veined lids of her sweet blue
eyes。 〃Thank Heaven； there is yet no dilation of the pupil； it is not too
late！〃 He cast a rapid glance around。 The nozzle and about three feet of
garden hose lay near him。
〃Open your mouth； quick！〃
It was a pretty； kissable mouth。 But young Little meant business。 He
put the nozzle down her pink throat as far as it would go。
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〃Now； don't move。〃
He wrapped his handkerchief around a hoopstick。 Then he inserted
both in the other end of the stiff hose。 It fitted snugly。 He shoved it in and
then drew it back。
Nature abhors a vacuum。 The young patrician was as amenable to this
law as the child of the lowest peasant。
She succumbed。 It was all over in a minute。 Then she burst into a small
fury。
〃You nasty； badUGLY boy。〃
Young Little winced； but smiled。
〃Stimulants；〃 he whispered to the frightened nursery…maid who
approached； 〃good evening。〃 He was gone。
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CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER IV。
The breach between young Little and Mr。 Raby was slowly widening。
Little found objectionable features in the Hall。 〃This black oak ceiling and
wainscoating is not as healthful as plaster； besides； it absorbs the light。
The bedroom ceiling is too low； the Elizabethan architects knew nothing
of ventilation。 The color of that oak panelling which you admire is due to
an excess of carbon and the exuvia from the pores of your skin〃
〃Leave the house；〃 bellowed Raby； 〃before the roof falls on your
sacrilegious head！〃
As Little left the house； Lady Caroline and a handsome boy of about
Little's age entered。 Lady Caroline recoiled； and thenblushed。 Little
glared； he instinctively felt the presence of a rival。
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CHAPTER V。
Little worked hard。 He studied night and day。 In five years he became
a lecturer； then a professor。
He soared as high as the clouds； he dipped as low as the cellars of the
London poor。 He analyzed the London fog； and found it two parts smoke；
one disease； one unmentionable abominations。 He published a pamphlet；
which was violently attacked。 Then he knew he had done something。
But he had not forgotten Caroline。 He was walking one day in the
Zoological Gardens and he came upon a pretty picture；flesh and blood
too。
Lady Caroline feeding buns to the bears！ An exquisite thrill passed
through his veins。 She turned her sweet face and their eyes met。 They
recollected their first meeting seven years before； but it was his turn to be
shy and timid。 Wonderful power of age and sex！ She met him with perfect
self…possession。
〃Well meant； but indigestible I fear〃 （he alluded to the buns）。
〃A clever person like yourself can easily correct that〃 （she； the
slyboots； was thinking of something else）。
In a few moments they were chatting gayly。 Little eagerly descanted
upon the different animals； she listened with delicious interest。 An hour
glided delightfully away。
After this sunshine； clouds。
To them suddenly entered Mr。 Raby and a handsome young man。 The
gentlemen bowed stiffly and looked vicious；as they felt。 The lady of this
quartette smiled amiably； as she did not feel。
〃Looking at your ancestors； I suppose；〃 said Mr。 Raby； pointing to the
monkeys； 〃we will not disturb you。 Come。〃 And he led Caroline away。
Little was heart…sick。 He dared not follow them。 But an hour later he
saw something which filled his heart with bliss unspeakable。
