The hospital was nothing more nor less than a partitioned portion of the lower deck, filched1 from the space allotted2 to the soldiers. It ran fore3 and aft, coming close to the stern windows, and was, in fact, a sort of artificial stern cabin. At a pinch, it might have held a dozen men.
Though not so hot as in the prison, the atmosphere of the lower deck was close and unhealthy, and the girl, pausing to listen to the subdued4 hum of conversation coming from the soldiers’ berths5, turned strangely sick and giddy. She drew herself up, however, and held out her hand to a man who came rapidly across the misshapen shadows, thrown by the sulkily swinging lantern, to meet her. It was the young soldier who had been that day sentry6 at the convict gangway.
“Well, miss,” he said, “I am here, yer see, waiting for yer.”
“You are a good boy, Miles; but don’t you think I’m worth waiting for?”
Miles grinned from ear to ear.
“Indeed you be,” said he.
Sarah Purfoy frowned, and then smiled.
“Come here, Miles; I’ve got something for you.”
Miles came forward, grinning harder.
The girl produced a small object from the pocket of her dress. If Mrs. Vickers had seen it she would probably have been angry, for it was nothing less than the captain’s brandy-flask.
“Drink,” said she. “It’s the same as they have upstairs, so it won’t hurt you.”
The fellow needed no pressing. He took off half the contents of the bottle at a gulp7, and then, fetching a long breath, stood staring at her.
“That’s prime!”
“Is it? I dare say it is.” She had been looking at him with unaffected disgust as he drank. “Brandy is all you men understand.” Miles — still sucking in his breath — came a pace closer.
“Not it,” said he, with a twinkle in his little pig’s eyes. “I understand something else, miss, I can tell yer.”
The tone of the sentence seemed to awaken8 and remind her of her errand in that place. She laughed as loudly and as merrily as she dared, and laid her hand on the speaker’s arm. The boy — for he was but a boy, one of those many ill-reared country louts who leave the plough-tail for the musket9, and, for a shilling a day, experience all the “pomp and circumstance of glorious war”— reddened to the roots of his closely-cropped hair.
“There, that’s quite close enough. You’re only a common soldier, Miles, and you mustn’t make love to me.”
“Not make love to yer!” says Miles. “What did yer tell me to meet yer here for then?”
She laughed again.
“What a practical animal you are! Suppose I had something to say to you?”
Miles devoured10 her with his eyes.
“It’s hard to marry a soldier,” he said, with a recruit’s proud intonation11 of the word; “but yer might do worse, miss, and I’ll work for yer like a slave, I will.”
She looked at him with curiosity and pleasure. Though her time was evidently precious, she could not resist the temptation of listening to praises of herself.
“I know you’re above me, Miss Sarah. You’re a lady, but I love yer, I do, and you drives me wild with yer tricks.”
“Do I?”
“Do yer? Yes, yer do. What did yer come an’ make up to me for, and then go sweetheartin’ with them others?”
“What others?”
“Why, the cuddy folk — the skipper, and the parson, and that Frere. I see yer walkin’ the deck wi’ un o’ nights. Dom ’um, I’d put a bullet through his red head as soon as look at un.”
“Hush! Miles dear — they’ll hear you.”
Her face was all aglow12, and her expanded nostrils13 throbbed14. Beautiful as the face was, it had a tigerish look about it at that moment.
Encouraged by the epithet15, Miles put his arm round her slim waist, just as Blunt had done, but she did not resent it so abruptly16. Miles had promised more.
“Hush!” she whispered, with admirably-acted surprise —“I heard a noise!” and as the soldier started back, she smoothed her dress complacently17.
“There is no one!” cried he.
“Isn’t there? My mistake, then. Now come here, Miles.”
Miles obeyed.
“Who is in the hospital?”
“I dunno.”
“Well, I want to go in.”
Miles scratched his head, and grinned.
“Yer carn’t.”
“Why not? You’ve let me in before.” “Against the doctor’s orders. He told me special to let no one in but himself.”
“Nonsense.”
“It ain’t nonsense. There was a convict brought in to-night, and nobody’s to go near him.”
“A convict!” She grew more interested. “What’s the matter with him?”
“Dunno. But he’s to be kep’ quiet until old Pine comes down.”
She became authoritative18.
“Come, Miles, let me go in.”
“Don’t ask me, miss. It’s against orders, and —”
“Against orders? Why, you were blustering19 about shooting people just now.”
The badgered Miles grew angry. “Was I? Bluster20 or no bluster, you don’t go in.” She turned away. “Oh, very well. If this is all the thanks I get for wasting my time down here, I shall go on deck again.”
Miles became uneasy.
“There are plenty of agreeable people there.”
Miles took a step after her.
“Mr. Frere will let me go in, I dare say, if I ask him.”
Miles swore under his breath.
“Dom Mr. Frere! Go in if yer like,” he said. “I won’t stop yer, but remember what I’m doin’ of.”
She turned again at the foot of the ladder, and came quickly back.
“That’s a good lad. I knew you would not refuse me”; and smiling at the poor lad she was befooling, she passed into the cabin.
There was no lantern, and from the partially-blocked stern windows came only a dim, vaporous light. The dull ripple21 of the water as the ship rocked on the slow swell22 of the sea made a melancholy23 sound, and the sick man’s heavy breathing seemed to fill the air. The slight noise made by the opening door roused him; he rose on his elbow and began to mutter. Sarah Purfoy paused in the doorway24 to listen, but she could make nothing of the low, uneasy murmuring. Raising her arm, conspicuous25 by its white sleeve in the gloom, she beckoned26 Miles.
“The lantern,” she whispered, “bring me the lantern!”
He unhooked it from the rope where it swung, and brought it towards her. At that moment the man in the bunk27 sat up erect28, and twisted himself towards the light. “Sarah!” he cried, in shrill29 sharp tones. “Sarah!” and swooped30 with a lean arm through the dusk, as though to seize her.
The girl leapt out of the cabin like a panther, struck the lantern out of her lover’s hand, and was back at the bunk-head in a moment. The convict was a young man of about four-and-twenty. His hands — clutched convulsively now on the blankets — were small and well-shaped, and the unshaven chin bristled31 with promise of a strong beard. His wild black eyes glared with all the fire of delirium32, and as he gasped33 for breath, the sweat stood in beads34 on his sallow forehead.
The aspect of the man was sufficiently35 ghastly, and Miles, drawing back with an oath, did not wonder at the terror which had seized Mrs. Vickers’s maid. With open mouth and agonized36 face, she stood in the centre of the cabin, lantern in hand, like one turned to stone, gazing at the man on the bed.
“Ecod, he be a sight!” says Miles, at length. “Come away, miss, and shut the door. He’s raving37, I tell yer.”
The sound of his voice recalled her.
She dropped the lantern, and rushed to the bed.
“You fool; he’s choking, can’t you see? Water! give me water!”
And wreathing her arms around the man’s head, she pulled it down on her bosom38, rocking it there, half savagely39, to and fro.
Awed40 into obedience41 by her voice, Miles dipped a pannikin into a small puncheon, cleated in the corner of the cabin, and gave it her; and, without thanking him, she placed it to the sick prisoner’s lips. He drank greedily, and closed his eyes with a grateful sigh.
Just then the quick ears of Miles heard the jingle42 of arms. “Here’s the doctor coming, miss!” he cried. “I hear the sentry saluting43. Come away! Quick!”
She seized the lantern, and, opening the horn slide, extinguished it.
“Say it went out,” she said in a fierce whisper, “and hold your tongue. Leave me to manage.”
She bent44 over the convict as if to arrange his pillow, and then glided45 out of the cabin, just as Pine descended46 the hatchway.
“Hallo!” cried he, stumbling, as he missed his footing; “where’s the light?”
“Here, sir,” says Miles, fumbling47 with the lantern. “It’s all right, sir. It went out, sir.”
“Went out! What did you let it go out for, you blockhead!” growled48 the unsuspecting Pine. “Just like you boobies! What is the use of a light if it ‘goes out’, eh?” As he groped his way, with outstretched arms, in the darkness, Sarah Purfoy slipped past him unnoticed, and gained the upper deck.
收听单词发音 |
1
filched
|
|
| v.偷（尤指小的或不贵重的物品）( filch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
allotted
|
|
| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
fore
|
|
| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
subdued
|
|
| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
berths
|
|
| n.（船、列车等的）卧铺( berth的名词复数 )；（船舶的）停泊位或锚位；差事；船台vt.v.停泊( berth的第三人称单数 )；占铺位 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
sentry
|
|
| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
gulp
|
|
| vt.吞咽，大口地吸（气）；vi.哽住；n.吞咽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
awaken
|
|
| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
musket
|
|
| n.滑膛枪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
devoured
|
|
| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
intonation
|
|
| n.语调，声调；发声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
aglow
|
|
| adj.发亮的；发红的；adv.发亮地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
nostrils
|
|
| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
throbbed
|
|
| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
epithet
|
|
| n.（用于褒贬人物等的）表述形容词，修饰语 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
abruptly
|
|
| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
complacently
|
|
| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
authoritative
|
|
| adj.有权威的，可相信的；命令式的；官方的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
blustering
|
|
| adj.狂风大作的，狂暴的v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的现在分词 )；咆哮；（风）呼啸；狂吹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
bluster
|
|
| v.猛刮；怒冲冲的说；n.吓唬，怒号；狂风声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
ripple
|
|
| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
swell
|
|
| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
melancholy
|
|
| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
conspicuous
|
|
| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
beckoned
|
|
| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
bunk
|
|
| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
erect
|
|
| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
shrill
|
|
| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
swooped
|
|
| 俯冲，猛冲( swoop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
bristled
|
|
| adj. 直立的，多刺毛的 动词bristle的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
delirium
|
|
| n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
beads
|
|
| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
sufficiently
|
|
| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
agonized
|
|
| v.使（极度）痛苦，折磨( agonize的过去式和过去分词 )；苦斗；苦苦思索；感到极度痛苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
raving
|
|
| adj.说胡话的；疯狂的，怒吼的；非常漂亮的；令人醉心[痴心]的v.胡言乱语(rave的现在分词)n.胡话；疯话adv.胡言乱语地；疯狂地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
savagely
|
|
| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
awed
|
|
| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
obedience
|
|
| n.服从，顺从 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
jingle
|
|
| n.叮当声，韵律简单的诗句；v.使叮当作响，叮当响，押韵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
saluting
|
|
| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的现在分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
glided
|
|
| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
fumbling
|
|
| n. 摸索,漏接 v. 摸索,摸弄,笨拙的处理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
growled
|
|
| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |