A rustling38 sound dissolved my meditations39. I glanced up and saw Miss Ottley bending over her father. I slipped out and sought the Arab's quarters. Soon I had a good fire alight and water on to boil. I rather spread myself that morning. I cooked some tinned asparagus, boiled a tinned chicken, and opened a jar of prunes40. Breakfast spread on the lid of a brandy box looked and smelled[Pg 33] very good. I carried it up to the pylon and whistled "Come into the garden, Maude."
Miss Ottley appeared at once, round eyed with surprise.
"Your father has already eaten," I observed. "In all likelihood he will sleep for hours yet. Kindly41 sit down. You'll excuse my novel breakfast call. It is the only invitational air I am acquainted with."
She stared at me.
"May one not be lighthearted when all goes well?" I asked.
"One may," she answered. Then her eyes fell and she coloured painfully. "But not two. I slept at my post. Oh! how could I?" Her voice was quite despairing and bitterly contemptuous.
I bit at the leg of a chicken which I held in my fingers. "After all, you are a woman, you know," I commented, with my mouth full. "This chick's prime—done to a turn."
"How tired you must be!"
"Y-yes," she admitted.
"Then don't be a ninny spending time in vain regrets. Fall to and repair your waste tissues. In plain English—eat."
She sat down on a ruined column and I handed her a plate.
"You look—positively merry!" she said. "You[Pg 34] are nursing some—pleasant—or profitable reflection." She considered the words with care.
"I have discovered that I may have—told the truth to your father last night after all. By accident."
"I beg your pardon."
"I believe I have found your friend Ptahmes, Miss Ottley."
The plate slid off her lap and broke. Chicken and gravy43 littered the pavement. But she had no idea of it. "Impossible!" she cried.
I explained my examination of the sarcophagus and the result in detail. She sat gazing at me like a graven image. When she had finished she arose and vanished—without a word. I followed and found her standing44 beside the great lead coffin, my kerchief in her hand. She had reopened the chisel hole, and the cavern was already saturated45 with the infernal gas. I snatched my handkerchief away and once more blocked the vent46. Then I exerted all my strength and with a prodigious47 effort placed the lid on the sarcophagus. With a woman's curiosity to reckon with, such a precaution seemed a vital safeguard. I found her standing in the pylon, breathing like a spent runner.
"You might have taken my word," I said coldly. "You'd have saved yourself an ugly headache at the least."
Her face was crimson48; her eyes burned like stars. The fumes of that uncanny perfume had made her[Pg 35] drunk. She swayed and leaned dizzily against a pillar. I went up and took her hand. The pulse was beating like a miniature steam hammer.
"Sit down," I said.
She laughed and sank at my feet in a heap. "Oh! Oh!" she cried and fell to sobbing49 half hysterically50 though tearlessly.
"Lord!" I said aloud. "What a bundle of hysterical51 humours it is, and how plain to look on when its resolution takes a holiday."
That is the way to treat hysteria.
Miss Ottley sat up and withered52 me with a glance. "I—I am. It—it's not hysteria," she stammered53, between gasps54. "Besides—you—confessed—it—overcame—you, too."
Then she fainted. I sprang up, but even as I moved I heard a loud sigh in the cavern. "The sick man first," I muttered, and let the girl lie. But at the door of the cavern chamber I stood transfixed. A dark shape bent56 over the patient's cot, hiding Sir Robert Ottley's face from view. It seemed to be a man, but its back was presented to my gaze. "What the deuce are you doing here, whoever you are?" I cried out, and started forward. The shape melted on the instant into thinnest air. "Nothing but a shadow," I said to myself. It was necessary to say something. I was shocked to my soul. I stood for a moment shaking and dismayed. The shadow had been so thick and bodily and had fled so like a spirit that I had work[Pg 36] to do to readjust my scattered57 faculties58. Of course a shadow—and my eyes, dazzled by the sunlight without, had momentarily failed to pierce it. A reasonable and quite ample scientific explanation. But what had cast the shadow? Pish—what but myself? And yet: and yet: I was shivering like a blancmange. Never had my nerves used me so ill. Perhaps, however, that accursed perfume had affected them. Ah! there was a reassuring59 solution of the puzzle. Reassuring to my reason, be it understood, for the fleshy part of me was taken with an ague and refused for many seconds to return to its subjection to my will. Sometimes now I doubt but that the flesh has an intelligence apart from the brain cells and nerve structures that usually control it. Indeed, I have never met a man of intellect whose memory does not register experience of some occasion in which his flesh took independent fright—like a startled hare—at some bogie which made his sober reason subsequently smile; nay60, contemptuously at times. "Well, well," I said at length and pushed forward—to receive another shock. Sir Robert Ottley was almost nude61. The bed clothes had been pushed down past his waist. His fingers convulsively gripped the paillasse. His face was livid. His eyes were open and upturned. His whole form was stiff and rigid62. A fit? It seemed so. His pulse was still. He did not breathe. But a cataleptic fit then, for at a lance prick63 the blood flowed. I forced him to his right[Pg 37] side and tried massage64. No use. Strychnine and nitro-glycerine equally refused to act. Finally I saturated a cloth with amyl nitrate, placed it over his open mouth and tried artificial respiration65. A whole hour had passed already, but I refused to give in. It was well. In another twenty minutes my efforts were rewarded with a sigh. I kept on and the man began to breathe. When it seemed safe to leave off, I disposed him easily and watched events. First his normal colouring returned. Then his mouth closed. Finally his eyes revolved66. The lids closed and opened several times, then rested closed. His pulse beat feverishly67, but in spite of that he slept. I walked to the door. Miss Ottley—whom I had completely forgotten—still lay insensible where she had fallen. I picked her up and brought her into the cavern. She awoke to consciousness in transit68. I forced her to drink a stiff nobbler of brandy, and very soon she was in her old, cold, bright, proud, self-reliant state—armed cap-a-pie with insolence69 and egotism.
"Is your father subject to fits?" I asked.
"He has never had, till this, a day's illness in his life," she responded—with a touch of indignation.
I nodded. "Well, his period of disease indemnity70 has passed. While you swooned he had a fit. I use the expression colloquially71. You would probably have so described his condition had you seen him. As for me I don't know. The symptoms were unique. I restored him by treating him as[Pg 38] a drowned man. He was in a sort of trance. From this moment he must never be left, even for a second."
"He was insensible?"
"He was inanimate."
"That perfume!" she cried.
We glanced at the sarcophagus, then at each other.
"Was there need?" she asked, colouring. Then her eyes sparkled. "Oh, for such strength!" she cried. "It took six Arabs to lift that coffin lid. You must be a Samson."
"Fortunately," I observed.
Her brows drew together and her lips. "You treat me in a way that I resent," she said. "I am as reasonable a being as yourself."
"When do you wish to be aroused?" she asked.
"An hour before sunset. We must eat—that is I. You appear to thrive on air."
She bit her lips and I stared at the ceiling. I was dog-tired, but could not sleep. I counted a thousand and then glanced at Miss Ottley. Her gaze was fixed55 on me.
"You are overtired," she said, and her tone was pure womanly.
It irritated and amused me to find she could so unaffectedly assume it. I smiled.
[Pg 39]
She interpreted the smile aloud. "What sound reason have you for despising me?" she asked. "You pretend to be a scientist. Answer me as such, rejecting bias74."
"I don't," said I.
"Then you dislike me; why?"
"I don't."
Her lip curled. "Oh, indeed." She arose and brought me a cushion. I took it and our hands touched. "I must conclude, then, that you like me?" She drew her hand swiftly away and returned to her seat.
I smiled again. "Undoubtedly75, Miss Ottley."
"Being a woman and in a simply damnable position."
"Ah!" she cried, "you admit that."
"My dear girl, whenever I think of it your pluck amazes me."
To my astonishment79 her eyes closed and her bosom80 heaved. Then I saw such a struggle as I do not wish ever to witness again. Pride prevented her from raising her hand to hide her face. And pride put up a superhuman fight with human weakness. Her features were distorted. One could see that soul and body were engaged in mortal[Pg 40] combat. That spectacle was poignantly81 fascinating. I thrilled to see it and yet hated myself for not being able to look away. Why—who knows? But at length I could stand it no longer. I got up and shook her gently. She stiffened82 into marble, but did not offer to resist me.
"Peace, peace," I said. "You foolish, foolish child, you are wasting forces that were given you for quite another purpose."
Suddenly her eyes opened and looked straight in mine. "What?" she questioned, and two great tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Why do you hate your sex?" I asked. "God knows it is more valuable than mine."
"Woman," I retorted. "And each of us with a fateful mission to fulfil, not to fight against."
"Yours to sting, to hurt, to crush."
"And yours to foster and create a better, finer-natured breed."
"My dear girl," said I, "I haven't a temper to lose; I am a sober, cold-blooded man of the world. Of thirty."
I laughed out heartily86, then stopped, remembering the patient. He stirred and we both hurried to his side. But he did not wake.
I looked up and offered Miss Ottley my right hand.
"We started badly," I whispered, "but still we may be friends."
Her eyes darkened with anger. She stood like a statue regarding me, her expression sphinx-like and brooding. "Instinct says one thing and pride another!" I hazarded.
"Ah, well," said I, and made off to my stone couch, convinced that a man who argues with a woman is a fool. And I was punished properly. She haunted my dreams.
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1
nourishment
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| n.食物，营养品；营养情况 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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chisel
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| n.凿子；v.用凿子刻，雕，凿 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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coffin
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| n.棺材，灵柩 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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bail
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| v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人 | |
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sleepers
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| n.卧铺（通常以复数形式出现）；卧车( sleeper的名词复数 )；轨枕；睡觉（呈某种状态）的人；小耳环 | |
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crevice
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| n.(岩石、墙等)裂缝；缺口 | |
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impervious
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| adj.不能渗透的，不能穿过的，不易伤害的 | |
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expenditure
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| n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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16
scents
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| n.香水( scent的名词复数 )；气味；（动物的）臭迹；（尤指狗的）嗅觉 | |
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antiquity
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| n.古老；高龄；古物，古迹 | |
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incense
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| v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气 | |
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fumes
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| n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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27
distended
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| v.（使）膨胀，肿胀( distend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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28
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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insidious
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| adj.阴险的，隐匿的，暗中为害的，（疾病）不知不觉之间加剧 | |
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30
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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titillation
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| n.搔痒，愉快；搔痒感 | |
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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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paralysis
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| n.麻痹(症)；瘫痪(症) | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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pylon
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| n.高压电线架，桥塔 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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noxious
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| adj.有害的，有毒的；使道德败坏的，讨厌的 | |
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rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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meditations
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| 默想( meditation的名词复数 )； 默念； 沉思； 冥想 | |
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40
prunes
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| n.西梅脯，西梅干( prune的名词复数 )v.修剪（树木等）( prune的第三人称单数 )；精简某事物，除去某事物多余的部分 | |
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41
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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42
grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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43
gravy
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| n.肉汁；轻易得来的钱，外快 | |
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44
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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saturated
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| a.饱和的，充满的 | |
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46
vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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47
prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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48
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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49
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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50
hysterically
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| ad. 歇斯底里地 | |
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51
hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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52
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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53
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
gasps
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| v.喘气( gasp的第三人称单数 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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55
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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56
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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57
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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58
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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59
reassuring
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| a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的 | |
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60
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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nude
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| adj.裸体的；n.裸体者，裸体艺术品 | |
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62
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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63
prick
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| v.刺伤，刺痛，刺孔；n.刺伤，刺痛 | |
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64
massage
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| n.按摩，揉；vt.按摩，揉，美化，奉承，篡改数据 | |
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respiration
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| n.呼吸作用；一次呼吸；植物光合作用 | |
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66
revolved
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| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
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67
feverishly
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| adv. 兴奋地 | |
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transit
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| n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过 | |
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69
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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70
indemnity
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| n.赔偿，赔款，补偿金 | |
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71
colloquially
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| adv.用白话，用通俗语 | |
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72
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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73
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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74
bias
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| n.偏见，偏心，偏袒；vt.使有偏见 | |
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75
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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76
sarcasm
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
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77
craving
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| n.渴望,热望 | |
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haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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79
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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80
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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81
poignantly
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82
stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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83
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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84
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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85
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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86
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
参考例句： |
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87
falter
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| vi.(嗓音)颤抖，结巴地说；犹豫；蹒跚 | |
参考例句： |
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