It was now more than a fortnight since Sturk’s mishap1 in the Butcher’s Wood, and he was still alive, but still under the spell of coma2. He was sinking, but very slowly; yet it was enough to indicate the finality of that ‘life in death.’
Dangerfield once or twice attacked Toole rather tartly3 about Sturk’s case.
‘Can nothing be done to make him speak? Five minutes’ consciousness would unravel4 the mystery.’
Then Toole would shrug5, and say, ‘Pooh — pooh! my dear Sir, you know nothing.’
‘Why, there’s life!’
‘Ay, the mechanical functions of life, but the brain’s over-powered,’ replied Toole, with a wise frown.
‘Well, relieve it.’
‘By Jupiter, Sir, you make me laugh,’ cried Toole with a grin, throwing up his eyebrows6. ‘I take it, you think we doctors can work miracles.’
‘Quite the reverse, Sir,’ retorted Dangerfield, with a cold scoff7. ‘But you say he may possibly live six weeks more; and all that time the wick is smouldering, though the candle’s short — can’t you blow it in, and give us even one minute’s light?’
‘Ay, a smouldering wick and a candle if you please; but enclosed in a glass bottle, how the deuce are you to blow it?’
‘Pish!’ said the silver spectacles, with an icy flash from his glasses.
‘Why, Sir, you’ll excuse me — but you don’t understand,’ said Toole, a little loftily. ‘There are two contused wounds along the scalp as long as that pencil — the whole line of each partially8 depressed9, the depression all along being deep enough to lay your finger in. You can ask Irons, who dresses them when I’m out of the way.’
‘I’d rather ask you, Sir,’ replied Dangerfield, in turn a little high.
‘Well, you can’t apply the trepan, the surface is too extended, and all unsound, and won’t bear it —‘twould be simply killing10 him on the spot — don’t you see? and there’s no way else to relieve him.’
General Chattesworth had not yet returned. On his way home he had wandered aside, and visited the fashionable wells of Buxton, intending a three days’ sojourn11, to complete his bracing12 up for the winter. But the Pool of Siloam did not work pleasantly in the case of the robust13 general, who was attacked after his second dip with a smart fit of the gout in his left great-toe, where it went on charmingly, without any flickering14 upward, quite stationary15 and natural for three weeks.
About the end of which time the period of the annual ball given by the officers of the Royal Irish Artillery16 arrived. It was a great event in the town. To poor Mrs. Sturk, watching by her noble Barney, it seemed, of course, a marvellous insensibility and an outrage17. But the world must follow its instinct and vocation18, and attend to its business and amuse itself too, though noble Barneys lie a-dying here and there.
Aunt Becky and Gertrude drew up at the Elms, the rector’s house, with everything very handsome about them, and two laced footmen, with flambeaux, and went in to see little Lily, on their way to the ball, and to show their dresses, which were very fine, indeed, and to promise to come next day and tell her all the news; for Lily, as I mentioned, was an invalid19, and balls and flicflacs were not for her.
Little Lily smiled her bright girlish smile, and threw both her arms round grand Aunt Becky’s neck.
‘You good dear Aunt Becky, ’twas so kind and like you to come — you and Gertie. And oh, Geminie! what a grand pair of ladies!’ and she made a little rustic20 courtesy, like Nell in the farce21. ‘And I never saw this before (a near peep at Gertrude’s necklace), and Aunt Becky, what beautiful lace. And does not she look handsome, Gertie? I never saw her look so handsome. She’ll be the finest figure there. There’s no such delicate waist anywhere.’ And she set her two slender little forefingers22 and thumbs together, as if spanning it. ‘You’ve no chance beside her, Gertie; she’ll set all the young fellows a-sighing and simpering.’
‘You wicked little rogue23! I’ll beat you black and blue, for making fun of old Aunt Becky,’ cried Miss Rebecca, and ran a little race at her, about two inches to a step; her fan raised in her finger and thumb, and a jolly smile twinkling in her face, for she knew it was true about her waist, and she liked to be quizzed by the daring little girl. Her diamonds were on too, and her last look in her mirror had given her a satisfactory assurance, and she always played with little Lily, when they met; everyone grew gay and girlish with her.
So they stayed a full quarter of an hour, and the footman coughing laboriously24 outside the window reminded Aunt Rebecca at last how time flew; and Lily was for sitting down and playing a minuet and a country dance, and making them rehearse their steps, and calling in old Sally to witness the spectacle before they went; and so she and Aunt Becky had another little sportive battle — they never met, and seldom parted, without one. How was it that when gay little Lily provoked these little mimic25 skirmishes Aunt Becky would look for a second or two an inexpressibly soft and loving look upon her, and become quite girlish and tender? I think there is a way to every heart, and some few have the gift to reach it unconsciously and always.
So away rustled26 the great ladies, leaving Lily excited, and she stood at the window, with flushed cheek, and her fingers on the sash, looking after them, and she came back with a little smile and tears in her eyes. She sat down, with a bright colour in her cheeks, and did play a country dance, and then a merry old Irish air, full of frolic and spirit, on the harpsichord27; and gentle old Sally’s face peeped in with a wistful smile, at the unwonted sounds.
‘Come, sober old Sally, my sweetheart! I’ve taken a whim28 in my head, and you shall dress me, for to the ball I’ll go.’
‘Tut, tut, Miss Lily, darling,’ said old Sally, with a smile and a shake of the head. ‘What would the doctors say?’
‘What they please, my darling.’
And up stood little Lily, with her bright colour and lustrous29 eyes.
‘Angel bright!’ said the old woman, looking in that beloved and lovely young face, and quite ‘filling up,’ as the saying is, ‘there is not your peer on earth — no — not one among them all to compare with our Miss Lilias,’ and she paused, smiling, and then she said —‘But, my darling, sure you know you weren’t outside the door this five weeks.’
‘And is not that long enough, and too long, to shut me up, you cruel old woman? Come, come, Sally, girl, I’m resolved, and to the ball I’ll go; don’t be frightened. I’ll cover my head, and send in for Aunt Becky, and only just peep in, muffled30 up, for ten minutes; and I’ll go and come in the chair, and what harm can I take by it?’
Was it spirit? Did she want to show the folk that she did not shrink from meeting somebody; or that, though really ill, she ventured to peep in, through sheer liking31 for the scrape of the fiddle32, and the fun, to show them that at least she was not heart-sick? Or was it the mysterious attraction, the wish to see him once more, just through her hood33, far away, with an unseen side glance, and to build endless speculations34, and weave the filmy web of hope, for who knows how long, out of these airy tints35, a strange, sad smile, or deep, wild glance, just seen and fixed36 for ever in memory? She had given him up in words, but her heart had not given him up. Poor little Lily! She hoped all that was so bad in him would one day mend. He was a hero still — and, oh! she hoped, would be true to her. So Lily’s love, she scarce knew how, lived on this hope — the wildest of all wild hopes — waiting on the reformation of a rake.
‘But, darling Miss Lily, don’t you know the poor master would break his heart if he thought you could do such a wild thing as to go out again ‘the doctors’ orders, at this time o’ night, and into that hot place, and out again among the cold draughts37.’
Little Lily paused.
‘’Tis only a step, Sally; do you honestly think it would vex38 him?’
‘Vex him, darling? no, but break his heart. Why, he’s never done asking about you, and — oh! its only joking you are, my darling, that’s all.’
‘No, Sally, dear love, I meant it,’ said little Lily, sadly; ‘but I suppose it was a wild thought, and I’m better at home.’
And she played a march that had somehow a dash of the pathetic in it, in a sort of reverie, and she said:
‘Sally, do you know that?’
And Sally’s gentle face grew reflective, and she said:
‘Sure, Miss Lily, that’s the tune39 — isn’t it — the Artillery plays when they march out to the park?’
Lily nodded and smiled, and the tune moved on, conjuring40 up its pictured reverie. Those review days were grand things when little Lily was a child — magnanimous expenditure41 of hair and gunpowder42 was there. There sat General Chattesworth, behind his guns, which were now blazing away like fun, wearing his full uniform, point cravat43 and ruffles44, and that dignified45 and somewhat stern aspect which he put on with the rest of his review-day costume, bestriding his cream-coloured charger, Bombardier, and his plume46 and powdered ails47 de pigeon, hardly distinguishable from the smoke which enveloped48 him, as a cloud does a demigod in an allegorical picture.
Chord after chord brought up all this moving pageant49, unseen by Sally’s dim old eyes, before the saddened gaze of little Lily, whose life was growing to a retrospect50. She stood in the sunny street, again a little child, holding old Sally by the hand, on a soft summer day. The sentries51 presented arms, and the corps52 marched out resplendent. Old General Chattesworth, as proud as Lucifer, on Bombardier, who nods and champs, prancing53 and curvetting, to the admiration54 of the women; but at heart the mildest of quadrupeds, though passing, like an impostor as he was, for a devil incarnate55; the band thundering melodiously56 that dashing plaintive57 march, and exhilarating and firing the souls of all Chapelizod. Up went the windows all along the street, the rabble-rout of boys yelled and huzzaed like mad. The maids popped their mob-caps out of the attics58, and giggled59, and hung out at the risk of their necks. The serving men ran out on the hall-door steps. The village roués emerged in haste from their public houses. The whole scene round and along from top to bottom, was grinning and agape. Nature seemed to brighten up at sight of them; and the sun himself came out all in his best, with an unparalleled effulgence60.
Yes, the town was proud of its corps, and well it might. As gun after gun, with its complement61 of men and its lieutenant62 fireworkers, with a ‘right wheel,’ rolled out of the gate upon the broad street, not a soul could look upon the lengthening63 pageant of blue and scarlet64, with its symmetrical diagonals of snowy belt and long-flapped white cartouche boxes, moving together with measured swing; its laced cocked-hats, leggings, and courtly white shorts and vests, and ruffles, and all its buttons and brasses65 flashing up to the sun, without allowing it was a fine spirited sight.
And Lily, beholding66 the phantom67 regiment68, with mournful eyes, played their grand sad march proudly as they passed.
They looked so dashing and so grand; they were the tallest, shapeliest fellows. Faith, I can tell you, it was no such trifle, pulling along all those six and four pounders; and they needed to be athletic69 lads; and the officers were, with hardly an exception, martial70, high-bred gentlemen, with aristocratic bearing, and some of them, without question, confoundedly handsome.
And always there was one light, tall shape; one dark handsome face, with darker, stranger eyes, and a nameless grace and interest, moving with the march of the gay pageant, before her mind’s eye, to this harmonious71 and regretful music, which, as she played on, and her reverie deepened, grew slower and more sad, till old Sally’s voice awoke the dreamer. The chords ceased, the vision melted, and poor little Lily smiled sadly and kindly72 on old Sally, and took her candle, and went up with her to her bed.
收听单词发音 |
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mishap
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| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
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coma
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| n.昏迷，昏迷状态 | |
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tartly
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| adv.辛辣地，刻薄地 | |
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unravel
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| v.弄清楚（秘密）；拆开，解开，松开 | |
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shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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scoff
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| n.嘲笑，笑柄，愚弄；v.嘲笑，嘲弄，愚弄，狼吞虎咽 | |
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partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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sojourn
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| v./n.旅居，寄居；逗留 | |
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bracing
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| adj.令人振奋的 | |
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robust
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| adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的 | |
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flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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stationary
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| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
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artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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vocation
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| n.职业，行业 | |
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invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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farce
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| n.闹剧，笑剧，滑稽戏；胡闹 | |
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forefingers
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| n.食指( forefinger的名词复数 ) | |
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rogue
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| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
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laboriously
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| adv.艰苦地；费力地；辛勤地；（文体等）佶屈聱牙地 | |
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mimic
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| v.模仿，戏弄；n.模仿他人言行的人 | |
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rustled
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| v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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harpsichord
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| n.键琴（钢琴前身） | |
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whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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lustrous
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| adj.有光泽的；光辉的 | |
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muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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fiddle
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| n.小提琴；vi.拉提琴；不停拨弄，乱动 | |
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hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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speculations
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| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
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tints
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| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
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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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draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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vex
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| vt.使烦恼，使苦恼 | |
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tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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conjuring
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| n.魔术 | |
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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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gunpowder
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| n.火药 | |
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cravat
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| n.领巾，领结；v.使穿有领结的服装，使结领结 | |
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ruffles
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| 褶裥花边( ruffle的名词复数 ) | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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plume
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| n.羽毛；v.整理羽毛，骚首弄姿，用羽毛装饰 | |
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ails
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| v.生病( ail的第三人称单数 )；感到不舒服；处境困难；境况不佳 | |
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enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pageant
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| n.壮观的游行；露天历史剧 | |
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retrospect
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| n.回顾，追溯；v.回顾，回想，追溯 | |
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sentries
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| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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53
prancing
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| v.（马）腾跃( prance的现在分词 ) | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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incarnate
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| adj.化身的，人体化的，肉色的 | |
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melodiously
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plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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attics
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| n. 阁楼 | |
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giggled
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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effulgence
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| n.光辉 | |
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complement
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| n.补足物，船上的定员；补语；vt.补充，补足 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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lengthening
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的现在分词 )； 加长 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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brasses
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| n.黄铜( brass的名词复数 )；铜管乐器；钱；黄铜饰品（尤指马挽具上的黄铜圆片） | |
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66
beholding
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| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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phantom
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| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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athletic
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| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
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martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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harmonious
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| adj.和睦的，调和的，和谐的，协调的 | |
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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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