‘“If this was the gentleman as she was to send in the best dinner-service and dessert for?”
‘I looked deaf, but determined8 never to go again.
‘Miss Bullock and I, meanwhile, became rather friendly. We found out that we mutually disliked each other, and we’re contented9 with the discovery. If people are worth anything, this sort of non-liking is a very good beginning of friendship. Every good quality is revealed naturally and slowly, and is a pleasant surprise. I found out that Miss Bullock was sensible, and even sweet-tempered, when not irritated by her step-mother’s endeavours to show her off. But she would sulk for hours after Mrs. Bullock’s offensive praise of her good points. And I never saw such a black passion as she went into, when she suddenly came into the room when Mrs. Bullock was telling me of all the offers she had had.
‘My legacy made me feel up to extravagance. I scoured10 the country for a glorious nosegay of camellias, which I sent to Sophy on Valentine’s Day. I durst not add a line; but I wished the flowers could speak, and tell her how I loved her.
‘I called on Miss Tyrrell that day. Miss Caroline was more simpering and affected11 than ever, and full of allusions12 to the day.
‘“Do you affix13 much sincerity14 of meaning to the little gallantries of this day, Mr. Harrison?” asked she, in a languishing15 tone. I thought of my camellias, and how my heart had gone with them into Sophy’s keeping; and I told her I thought one might often take advantage of such a time to hint at feelings one dared not fully16 express.
‘I remembered afterwards the forced display she made, after Miss Tyrrell left the room, of a valentine. But I took no notice at the time; my head was full of Sophy.
‘It was on that very day that John Brouncker, the gardener to all of us who had small gardens to keep in order, fell down and injured his wrist severely17 (I don’t give you the details of the case, because they would not interest you, being too technical; if you’ve any curiosity, you will find them in the Lancet of August in that year). We all liked John, and this accident was felt like a town’s misfortune. The gardens, too, just wanted doing up. Both Mr. Morgan and I went directly to him. It was a very awkward case, and his wife and children were crying sadly. He himself was in great distress18 at being thrown out of work. He begged us to do something that would cure him speedily, as he could not afford to be laid up, with six children depending on him for bread. We did not say much before him; but we both thought the arm would have to come off, and it was his right arm. We talked it over when we came out of the cottage. Mr. Morgan had no doubt of the necessity. I went back at dinner-time to see the poor fellow. He was feverish19 and anxious. He had caught up some expression of Mr. Morgan’s in the morning, and had guessed the measure we had in contemplation. He bade his wife leave the room, and spoke20 to me by myself.
‘“If you please, sir, I’d rather be done for at once than have my arm taken off, and be a burden to my family. I’m not afraid of dying; but I could not stand being a cripple for life, eating bread, and not able to earn it.”
‘The tears were in his eyes with earnestness. I had all along been more doubtful about the necessity of the amputation21 than Mr. Morgan. I knew the improved treatment in such cases. In his days there was much more of the rough and ready in surgical22 practice; so I gave the poor fellow some hope.
‘In the afternoon I met Mr. Bullock.
‘“So you’re to try your hand at an amputation, tomorrow, I hear. Poor John Brouncker! I used to tell him he was not careful enough about his ladders. Mr. Morgan is quite excited about it. He asked me to be present, and see how well a man from Guy’s could operate; he says he is sure you’ll do it beautifully. Pah! no such sights for me, thank you.
‘Ruddy Mr. Bullock went a shade or two paler at the thought.
‘“Curious, how professionally a man views these things! Here’s Mr. Morgan, who had been all along as proud of you as if you were his own son, absolutely rubbing his hands at the idea of this crowning glory, this feather in your cap! He told me just now he knew he had always been too nervous to be a good operator, and had therefore preferred sending for White from Chesterton. But now any one might have a serious accident who liked, for you would be always at hand.”
‘I told Mr. Bullock, I really thought we might avoid the amputation; but his mind was preoccupied23 with the idea of it, and he did not care to listen to me. The whole town was full of it. That is a charm in a little town, everybody is so sympathetically full of the same events. Even Miss Horsman stopped me to ask after John Brouncker with interest; but she threw cold water upon my intention of saving the arm.
‘“As for the wife and family, we’ll take care of them. Think what a fine opportunity you have of showing off, Mr. Harrison!”
‘That was just like her. Always ready with her suggestions of ill-natured or interested motives24.
‘Mr. Morgan heard my proposal of a mode of treatment by which I thought it possible that the arm might be saved.
‘“I differ from you, Mr. Harrison,” said he. “I regret it; but I differ in toto from you. Your kind heart deceives you in this instance. There is no doubt that amputation must take place — not later than tomorrow morning, I should say. I have made myself at liberty to attend upon you, sir; I shall be happy to officiate as your assistant. Time was when I should have been proud to be principal; but a little trembling in my arm incapacitates me.”
‘I urged my reasons upon him again; but he was obstinate25. He had, in fact, boasted so much of my acquirements as an operator that he was unwilling26 I should lose this opportunity of displaying my skill. He could not see that there would be greater skill evinced in saving the arm; nor did I think of this at the time. I grew angry at his old-fashioned narrow-mindedness, as I thought it; and I became dogged in my resolution to adhere to my own course. We parted very coolly; and I went straight off to John Brouncker to tell him I believed that I could save the arm, if he would refuse to have it amputated. When I calmed myself a little, before going in and speaking to him, I could not help acknowledging that we should run some risk of lock-jaw; but, on the whole, and after giving some earnest conscientious27 thought to the case, I was sure that my mode of treatment would be best.
‘He was a sensible man. I told him the difference of opinion that existed between Mr. Morgan and myself. I said that there might be some little risk attending the non-amputation, but that I should guard against it; and I trusted that I should be able to preserve his arm.
‘“Under God’s blessing28,” said he reverently29. I bowed my head. I don’t like to talk too frequently of the dependence30 which I always felt on that holy blessing, as to the result of my efforts; but I was glad to hear that speech of John’s, because it showed a calm and faithful heart; and I had almost certain hopes of him from that time.
‘We agreed that he should tell Mr. Morgan the reason of his objections to the amputation, and his reliance on my opinion. I determined to recur31 to every book I had relating to such case, and to convince Mr. Morgan, if I could, of my wisdom. Unluckily, I found out afterwards that he had met Miss Horsman in the time that intervened before I saw him again at his own house that evening; and she had more than hinted that I shrunk from performing the operation, “for very good reasons no doubt. She had heard that the medical students in London were a bad set, and were not remarkable32 for regular attendance in the hospitals. She might be mistaken; but she thought it was, perhaps, quite as well poor John Brouncker had not his arm cut off by —. Was there not such a thing as mortification33 coming on after a clumsy operation? It was, perhaps, only a choice of deaths!”
‘Mr. Morgan had been stung at all this. Perhaps I did not speak quite respectfully enough: I was a good deal excited. We only got more and more angry with each other; though he, to do him justice, was as civil as could be all the time, thinking that thereby34 he concealed his vexation and disappointment. He did not try to conceal7 his anxiety about poor John. I went home weary and dispirited. I made up and took the necessary applications to John; and, promising35 to return with the dawn of day (I would fain have stayed, but I did not wish him to be alarmed about himself), I went home, and resolved to sit up and study the treatment of similar cases.
‘Mrs. Rose knocked at the door.
‘“Come in!” said I sharply.
‘“She said she had seen I had something on my mind all day, and she could not go to bed without asking if there was nothing she could do. She was good and kind; and I could not help telling her a little of the truth. She listened pleasantly; and I shook her warmly by the hand, thinking that though she might not be very wise, her good heart made her worth a dozen keen, sharp hard people, like Miss Horsman.
‘When I went at daybreak, I saw John’s wife for a few minutes outside the door. She seemed to wish her husband had been in Mr. Morgan’s hands rather than mine; but she gave me as good an account as I dared to hope for of the manner in which her husband had passed the night. This was confirmed by my own examination.
‘When Mr. Morgan and I visited him together later on in the day, John said what we had agreed upon the day before; and I told Mr. Morgan openly that it was by my advice that amputation was declined. He did not speak to me till we had left the house. Then he said — “Now, sir, from this time, I consider this case entirely36 in your hands. Only remember the poor fellow has a wife and six children. In case you conic round to my opinion, remember that Mr. White could come over, as he has done before, for the operation.”
‘So Mr. Morgan believed I declined operating because I felt myself incapable37! Very well! I was much mortified38.
‘An hour after we parted, I received a note to this effect:
‘“DEAR SIR, — I will take the long round today, to leave you at liberty to attend to Brouncker’s case, which I feel to be a very responsible one.
‘“J. MORGAN”
‘This was kindly39 done. I went back, as soon as I could, to John’s cottage. While I was in the inner room with him, I heard the Miss Tomkinsons’ voices outside. They had called to inquire. Miss Tomkinson came in, and evidently was poking40 and snuffing about. (Mrs. Brouncker told her that I was within; and within I resolved to be till they had gone.)
‘“What is this close smell?” asked she. “I am afraid you are not cleanly. Cheese! — cheese in this cupboard! No wonder there is an unpleasant smell. Don’t you know how particular you should be about being clean when there is illness about?”
‘Mrs. Brouncker was exquisitely41 clean in general, and was piqued42 at these remarks.
‘“If you please, ma’am, I could not leave John yesterday to do any housework, and Jenny put the dinner things away. She is but eight years old.”
‘But this did not satisfy Miss Tomkinson, who was evidently pursuing the course of her observations.
‘“Fresh butter, I declare! Well now, Mrs. Brouncker, do you know I don’t allow myself fresh butter at this time of the year? How can you save, indeed, with such extravagance!”
‘“Please, ma’am,” answered Mrs. Brouncker, “you’d think it strange, if I was to take such liberties in your house as you’re taking here.”
‘I expected to hear a sharp answer. No! Miss Tomkinson liked plain-speaking. The only person in whom she would tolerate round-about ways of talking was her sister.
‘“Well, that’s true,” she said. “Still, you must not be above taking advice. Fresh butter is extravagant43 at this time of the year. However, you’re a good kind of woman, and I’ve a great respect for John. Send Jenny for some broth44 as soon as he can take it. Come, Caroline, we have got to go on to Williams’s .”
‘But Miss Caroline said that she was tired, and would rest where she was till Miss Tomkinson came back. I was a prisoner for some time, I found. When she was alone with Mrs. Brouncker, she said:
‘“You must not be hurt by my sister’s abrupt45 manner. She means well. She has not much imagination or sympathy, and cannot understand the distraction46 of mind produced by the illness of a worshipped husband.” I could hear the loud sigh of commiseration47 which followed this speech. Mrs. Brouncker said:
‘“Please, ma’am, I don’t worship my husband. I would not be so wicked.”
‘“Goodness! You don’t think it wicked, do you? For my part, if . . . I should worship, I should adore him.” I thought she need not imagine such improbable cases. But sturdy Mrs. Brouncker said again:
‘“I hope I know my duty better. I’ve not learned my Commandments for nothing. I know Whom I ought to worship.”
‘Just then the children came in, dirty and unwashed, I have no doubt. And now Miss Caroline’s real nature peeped out. She spoke sharply to them, and asked them if they had no manners, little pigs as they were, to come brushing against her silk gown in that way? She sweetened herself again, and was as sugary as love when Miss Tomkinson returned to her, accompanied by one whose voice, “like winds in summer sighing,” I knew to be my dear Sophy’s .
‘She did not say much; but what she did say, and the manner in which she spoke, was tender and compassionate48 in the highest degree; and she came to take the four little ones back with her to the vicarage, in order that they might be out of their mother’s way; the older two might help at home. She offered to wash their hands and faces; and when I emerged from my inner chamber50, after the Miss Tomkinsons had left, I found her with a chubby51 child on her knees, bubbling and spluttering against her white wet hand, with a face bright, rosy52, and merry under the operation. Just as I came in, she said to him, “There, Jemmy, now I can kiss you with this nice clean face.”
‘She coloured when she saw me. I liked her speaking, and I liked her silence. She was silent now, and I “lo’ed her a’ the better.” I gave my directions to Mrs. Brouncker, and hastened to overtake Sophy and the children; but they had gone round by the lanes, I suppose, for I saw nothing of them.
‘I was very anxious about the case. At night I went again. Miss Horsman had been there; I believe she was really kind among the poor, but she could not help leaving a sting behind her everywhere. She had been frightening Mrs. Brouncker about her husband, and been, I have no doubt, expressing her doubts of my skill; for Mrs. Brouncker began:
‘“Oh, please, sir, if you’ll only let Mr. Morgan take off his arm, I will never think the worse of you for not being able to do it.”
‘I told her it was from no doubt of my own competency to perform the operation that I wished to save the arm; but that he himself was anxious to have it spared.
‘“Ay, bless him! he frets53 about not earning enough to keep us, if he’s crippled; but, sir, I don’t care about that. I would work my fingers to the bone, and so would the children; I’m sure we’d be proud to do for him, and keep him; God bless him! it would be far better to have him only with one arm, than to have him in the churchyard, Miss Horsman says
‘“Confound Miss Horsman!” said I.
‘“Thank you, Mr. Harrison,” said her well-known voice behind me. She had come out, dark as it was, to bring some old linen54 to Mrs. Brouncker; for, as I said before, she was very kind to all the poor people of Duncombe.
‘“I beg your pardon”; for I really was sorry for my speech — or rather that she had heard it.
‘“There is no occasion for any apology,” she replied, drawing herself up, and pinching her lips into a very venomous shape.
‘John was doing pretty well; but of course the danger of lock-jaw was not over. Before I left, his wife entreated55 me to take off the arm; she wrung56 her hands in her passionate49 entreaty57. “Spare him to me, Mr. Harrison,” she implored58. Miss Horsman stood by. It was mortifying59 enough; but I thought of the power which was in my hands, as I firmly believed, of saving the limb; and I was inflexible60.
‘You cannot think how pleasantly Mrs. Rose’s sympathy came in on my return. To be sure she did not understand one word of the case, which I detailed61 to her; but she listened with interest, and, as long as she held her tongue, I thought she was really taking it in; but her first remark was as mal àpropos as could be.
‘“You are anxious to save the tibia — I see completely how difficult that will be. My late husband had a case exactly similar, and I remember his anxiety; but you must not distress yourself too much, my dear Mr. Harrison; I have no doubt it will end well,”
‘I knew she had no grounds for this assurance, and yet it comforted me.
‘However, as it happened, John did fully as well as I could have hoped for; of course, he was long in rallying his strength; and, indeed, sea-air was evidently so necessary for his complete restoration, that I accepted with gratitude62 Mrs. Rose’s proposal of sending him to Highport for a fortnight or three weeks. Her kind generosity63 in this matter made me more desirous than ever of paying her every mark of respect and attention.
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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legacy
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| n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
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displeased
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| a.不快的 | |
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banking
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| n.银行业，银行学，金融业 | |
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benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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scoured
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| 走遍（某地）搜寻（人或物）( scour的过去式和过去分词 )； （用力）刷； 擦净； 擦亮 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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allusions
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| 暗指，间接提到( allusion的名词复数 ) | |
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affix
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| n.附件，附录 vt.附贴，盖(章)，签署 | |
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sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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languishing
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| a. 衰弱下去的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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amputation
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| n.截肢 | |
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surgical
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| adj.外科的，外科医生的，手术上的 | |
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preoccupied
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| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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reverently
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dependence
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| n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属 | |
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recur
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| vi.复发，重现，再发生 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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mortified
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| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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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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poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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exquisitely
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| adv.精致地；强烈地；剧烈地；异常地 | |
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piqued
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| v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的过去式和过去分词 )；激起（好奇心） | |
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extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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broth
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| n.原(汁)汤(鱼汤、肉汤、菜汤等) | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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distraction
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| n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐 | |
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commiseration
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| n.怜悯，同情 | |
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compassionate
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| adj.有同情心的，表示同情的 | |
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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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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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chubby
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| adj.丰满的，圆胖的 | |
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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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frets
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| 基质间片； 品丝（吉他等指板上定音的）( fret的名词复数 ) | |
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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mortifying
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| adj.抑制的，苦修的v.使受辱( mortify的现在分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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60
inflexible
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| adj.不可改变的，不受影响的，不屈服的 | |
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61
detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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62
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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