At this time the English public were much interested in an important will case which was then being tried. The reversion to a vast sum of money depended upon the testator’s sanity7 or insanity8. Like most other people we duly discussed the matter. I suppose, from some of my remarks, my companion understood that I was a doctor. He asked me a good many technical questions, and I described several curious cases of mania9 which had come under my notice. He seemed greatly interested in the subject.
“You must sometimes find it hard to say where sanity ends and insanity begins,” he said thoughtfully.
“Yes. The boundary-line is in some instances hard to define. To give in such a dubious10 case an opinion which would satisfy myself I should want to have known the patient at the time he was considered quite sane11.”
“To mark the difference?”
“Exactly. And to know the bent12 of the character. For instance, there is a friend of mine. He was perfectly13 sane when last I saw him, but for all I know he may have made great progress the other way in the interval14.”
Then without mentioning names, dates, or places, I described Carriston’s peculiar5 disposition15 to my intelligent listener. He heard me with rapt interest.
“You predict he will go mad?” he said.
“Certainly not. Unless anything unforeseen arises he will probably live and die as sane as you or I.”
“Why do you fear for him, then?”
“For this reason. I think that any sudden emotion—violent[214] grief, for instance—any unexpected and crushing blow—might at once disturb the balance of his mind. Let his life run on in an even groove16, and all will be well with him.”
My companion was silent for a few moments.
“Did you mention your friend’s name?” he asked.
I laughed. “Doctors never give names when they quote cases.”
At the next station my companion left the train. He bade me a polite adieu, and thanked me for the pleasure my conversation had given him. After wondering what station in life he occupied I dismissed him from my mind, as one who had crossed my path for a short time and would probably never cross it again.
Although I did not see Charles Carriston I received several letters from him during the course of the year. He had not forgotten our undertaking17 to pass my next holiday together. Early in the autumn, just as I was beginning to long with a passionate18 longing19 for open air and blue skies, a letter came from Carriston. He was now, he said, roughing it in the Western Highlands. He reminded me of last year’s promise. Could I get away from work now? Would I join him? If I did not care to visit Scotland, would I suggest some other place where he could join me? Still, the scenery by which he was now surrounded was superb, and the accommodation he had secured, if not luxurious20, fairly comfortable. He thought we could not do better. A postscript21 to his letter asked me to address him as Cecil Carr, not Charles Carriston. He had a reason for changing his name; a foolish reason I should no doubt call it. When we met he would let me know it.
This letter at once decided22 me to accept his invitation.[215] In a week’s time my arrangements for leave of absence were complete, and I was speeding northward23 in the highest spirits, and well equipped with everything necessary for my favorite holiday pursuit. I looked forward with the greatest pleasure to again meeting Carriston. I found him at Callendar waiting for me. The coach did not follow the route we were obliged to take in order to reach the somewhat unfrequented part of the country in which our tent was pitched, so my friend had secured the services of a primitive24 vehicle and a strong shaggy pony25 to bear us the remainder of the journey.
So soon as our first hearty26 greetings were over I proceeded to ascertain27 how the last year had treated Carriston. I was both delighted and astonished at the great change for the better which had taken place in his manner, no less than his appearance. He looked far more robust28; he seemed happier, brighter; although more like ordinary humanity. Not only had he greeted me with almost boisterous29 glee, but during our drive through the wonderful scenery he was in the gayest of spirits and full of fun and anecdote30. I congratulated him heartily31 upon the marked improvement in his health, both mentally and physically32.
“Yes, I am much better,” he said. “I followed a part of your advice; gave up moping, tried constant change of scene, interested myself in many more things. I am quite a different man.”
“No supernatural visitations?” I asked, anxious to learn that his cure in that direction was complete.
His face fell. He hesitated a second before answering.
“No—not now,” he said. “I fought against the[216] strange feeling, and I believe have got rid of it—at least I hope so.”
I said no more on the subject. Carriston plunged33 into a series of vivid and mimetic descriptions of the varieties of Scotch34 character which he had met with during his stay. He depicted35 his experiences so amusingly that I laughed heartily for many a mile.
“But why the change in your name?” I asked, when he paused for a moment in his merry talk.
He blushed, and looked rather ashamed. “I scarcely like to tell you; you will think my reason so absurd.”
“Never mind. I don’t judge you by the ordinary standard.”
“Well, the fact is, my cousin is also in Scotland. I feared if I gave my true name at the hotel at which I stayed on my way here, he might perchance see it, and look me up in these wild regions.”
“Well, and what if he did?”
“I can’t tell you. I hate to know I feel like it. But I have always, perhaps without cause, been afraid of him; and this place is horribly lonely.”
Now that I understood the meaning of his words, I thought the boy must be joking; but the grave look on his face showed he was never further from merriment.
“Why, Carriston!” I cried, “you are positively36 ridiculous about your cousin. You can’t think the man wants to murder you?”
“I don’t know what I think. I am saying things to you which I ought not to say; but every time I meet him I feel he hates me, and wishes me out of the world.”
“Between wishing and doing there is a great difference. I dare say all this ’s fancy on your part.”
“Perhaps so. Any way, Cecil Carr is as good a name up here as Charles Carriston, so please humor my whim37 and say no more about it.”
As it made no difference to me by what name he chose to call himself I dropped the subject. I knew of old that some of his strange prejudices were proof against anything I could do to remove them.
At last we reached our temporary abode38. It was a substantial, low-built house, owned and inhabited by a thrifty39 middle-aged40 widow, who, although well-to-do so far as the simple ideas of her neighbors went, was nevertheless always willing to add to her resources by accommodating such stray tourists as wished to bury themselves for a day or two in solitude41, or artists who, like ourselves, preferred to enjoy the beauties of Nature undisturbed by the usual ebbing42 and flowing stream of sightseers.
As Carriston asserted, the accommodation if homely43 was good enough for two single men; the fare was plentiful44, and our rooms were the picture of cleanliness. After a cursory45 inspection46 I felt sure that I could for a few weeks make myself very happy in these quarters.
I had not been twenty-four hours in the house before I found out one reason for the great change for the better in Charles Carriston’s demeanor47; knew his step was lighter48, his eye brighter, his voice gayer, and his whole bearing altered. Whether the reason was a subject of congratulation or not I could not as yet say.
The boy was in love; in love as only a passionate, romantic, imaginative nature can be; and even then only once in a lifetime. Heedless, headstrong, impulsive,[218] and entirely49 his own master, he had given his very heart and soul into the keeping of a woman.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
compartment
|
|
| n.卧车包房，隔间；分隔的空间 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
barter
|
|
| n.物物交换，以货易货，实物交易 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
peculiarities
|
|
| n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
sanity
|
|
| n.心智健全，神智正常，判断正确 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
insanity
|
|
| n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
mania
|
|
| n.疯狂；躁狂症，狂热，癖好 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
dubious
|
|
| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
sane
|
|
| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
interval
|
|
| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
disposition
|
|
| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
groove
|
|
| n.沟，槽；凹线，（刻出的）线条，习惯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
undertaking
|
|
| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
passionate
|
|
| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
longing
|
|
| n.（for）渴望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
luxurious
|
|
| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
postscript
|
|
| n.附言，又及；(正文后的)补充说明 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
northward
|
|
| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
primitive
|
|
| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
pony
|
|
| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
hearty
|
|
| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
ascertain
|
|
| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
robust
|
|
| adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
boisterous
|
|
| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
anecdote
|
|
| n.轶事，趣闻，短故事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
heartily
|
|
| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
physically
|
|
| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
plunged
|
|
| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
scotch
|
|
| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
depicted
|
|
| 描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
positively
|
|
| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
whim
|
|
| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
abode
|
|
| n.住处，住所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
thrifty
|
|
| adj.节俭的；兴旺的；健壮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
middle-aged
|
|
| adj.中年的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
solitude
|
|
| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
ebbing
|
|
| （指潮水）退( ebb的现在分词 )； 落； 减少； 衰落 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
homely
|
|
| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
plentiful
|
|
| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
cursory
|
|
| adj.粗略的；草率的；匆促的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
inspection
|
|
| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
demeanor
|
|
| n.行为；风度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
lighter
|
|
| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |