the mirror of kong ho(空赫的镜子)-第4节
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hesitate to shake itself freely into the various prepared viands； this person
（and doubtless others also） regarded it with an emotion very unfavourable
towards its prolonged existence； but observing from the first that those
who permitted themselves to be deposited upon； and their hands and even
their faces to be hound…tongue…defiled with the most externally cheerful
spirit of word suppression； invariably received the most desirable of the
allotted portions of food； he judged it prudent and conducive to a settled
digestion to greet it with favourable terms and actions； and to refer
frequently to its well…displayed proportions； and to the agile dexterity
which it certainly maintained in breathing into the contents of every dish。
Thus the matter may be regarded as being positioned for a space of time。
One evening I returned at the appointed gong…stroke of dinner； and
was beginning； according to my custom； to greet the hound with
ingratiating politeness； when the one of chief authority held up a reproving
hand； at the same time exclaiming：
〃No； Mr。 Kong； you must not encourage Hercules with your amiable
condescension； for just now he is in very bad odour with us all。〃
〃Undoubtedly；〃 replied this person； somewhat puzzled； nevertheless；
that the imperfection should thus be referred to openly by one who
hitherto had not hesitated to caress the hound with most intimate details；
〃undoubtedly the surrounding has a highly concentrated acuteness to…night；
but the ever…present characteristic of the hound Hercules is by no means
new； for whenever he is in the room〃
At this point it is necessary to explain that the ceremonial etiquette of
these barbarian outcasts is both conflicting and involved。 Upon most of the
ordinary occasions of life to obtrude oneself within the conversation of
another is a thing not to be done； yet repeatedly when this unpretentious
person has been relating his experience or inquiring into the nature and
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meaning of certain matters which he has witnessed； he has become aware
that his words have been obliterated； as it were； and his remarks diverted
from their original intention by the sudden and unanticipated desire of
those present to express themselves loudly on some topic of not really
engrossing interest。 Not infrequently on such occasions every one present
has spoken at once with concentrated anxiety upon the condition of the
weather； the atmosphere of the room； the hour of the day； or some like
detail of contemptible inferiority。 At other times maidens of
unquestionable politeness have sounded instruments of brass or stringed
woods with unceasing vigour； have cast down ornaments of china； or even
stood upon each other'sor this person'sfeet with assumed inelegance。
When； therefore； in the midst of my agreeable remark on the asserted no
fragrance of the hound Hercules； a gentleman of habitual refinement
struck me somewhat heavily on the back of the head with a reclining seat
which he was conveying across the room for the acceptance of a lady； and
immediately overwhelmed me with apologies of almost unnecessary
profusion； my mind at once leapt to an inspired conclusion； and smiling
acquiescently I bowed several times to each person to convey to them an
admission of the undoubted fact that to the wise a timely omen before the
storm is as effective as a thunderbolt afterwards。
It chanced that there was present the exceptionally prepossessing
maiden to whom this person has already referred。 So varied and ornate
were her attractions that it would be incompetent in one of my less than
average ability to attempt an adequate portrayal。 She had a light…coloured
name with the letters so harmoniously convoluted as to be quite beyond
my inferior power of pronunciation； so that if I wished to refer to her in
her absence I had to indicate the one I meant by likening her to a full…
blown chrysanthemum； a piece of rare jade； an ivory pagoda of
unapproachable antiquity； or some other object of admitted grace。 Even
this description may scarcely convey to you the real extent of her elegant
personality； but in her presence my internal organs never failed to vibrate
with a most entrancing uncertainty； and even now； at the recollection of
her virtuous demeanour； I am by no means settled within myself。
〃Well；〃 exclaimed this melodious vision； with sympathetic tact； 〃if
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every one is going to disown poor Hercules because he has eaten all our
dinners； I shall be quite willing to have him； for he is a dzear ole loveykins；
wasn't ums？〃 （This； O my immaculate and dignified sire； which I
transcribe with faithful undeviation； appears to be the dialect of a remote
province； spoken only by maidensboth young and of autumnal solitude
under occasional mental stress； as of a native of Shan…si relapsing without
consciousness into his uncouth tongue after passing a lifetime in the
Capital。） 〃Don't you think so too； Mr。 Kong？〃
〃When the sun shines the shadow falls； for truly it is said； 'To the
faithful one even the voice of the corncrake at evening speaks of his
absent love；'〃 replied this person； so engagingly disconcerted at being thus
openly addressed by the maiden that he retained no delicate impression of
what she said； or even of what he was replying； beyond an unassuming
hope that the nature of his feelings might perchance be inoffensively
revealed to her in the semblance of a discreet allegory。
〃Perhaps；〃 interposed a person of neglected refinement； turning
towards the maiden； 〃you would like to have a corncrake also； to remind
you of Mr。 Kong？〃
〃I do not know what a corncrake is like；〃 replied the maiden with
commendable dignity。 〃I do not think so； however； for I once had a pair of
canaries； and I found them very unsatisfying； insipid creatures。 But I
should love to have a little dog I am sure； only Miss Blank won't hear of
it。〃
〃Kong Ho；〃 thought this person inwardly； 〃not in vain have you burnt
joss sticks unceasingly； for the enchanting one has said into your eyes that
she would love to partake of a little dog。 Assuredly we have recently
consumed the cold portion of sheep on more occasions than a strict
honourableness could require of those who pay a stated sum at regular
intervals； and the change would be a welcome one。 As she truly says； the
flavour even of canaries is trivial and insignificant by comparison。〃
During the period of dinnerwhich consisted of eggs and green herbs of
the fieldthis person allowed the contemplation to grow within him； and
inspired by a most pleasant and disinterested ambition to carry out the
expressed wishes of the one who had spoken； he determined that the
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matter should be unobtrusively arranged despite the mercenary opposition
of the Maidens Blank。
This person had already learned by experience that dogs are rarely if
ever exposed for sale in the stalls of the meat venders； the reason doubtless
being that they are articles of excessive luxury and reserved by law for the
rich and powerful。 Those kept by private persons are generally closely
guarded when they approach a desirable condition of body； and the hound
Hercules would not prove an attractive dish to those who had known him
in life。 Nevertheless； it is well said； 〃The Great Wall is unsurmountable；
but there are many gaps through；〃 and that same evening I was able to
carry the first part of my well…intentioned surprise into effect。
The matter now involves one
