II
Simeon was speaking into the telephone. He waved a hand to them.
“Sit down, all of you. I shan’t be a minute.”
He went on speaking into the telephone.
“Is that Charlton, Hodgkins & Bruce? Is that you, Charlton? Simeon Lee speaking. Yes, isn’t
it? . . . Yes . . . No, I wanted you to make a new will for me . . . Yes, it’s some time since I made
the other . . . Circumstances have altered . . . Oh no, no hurry. Don’t want you to spoil your
Christmas. Say Boxing Day or the day after. Come along, and I’ll tell you what I want done. No,
that’s quite all right. I shan’t be dying just yet.”
He replaced the receiver, then looked round at the eight members of his family. He cackled
and said:
Alfred said: “You sent for us. . . .”
Simeon said quickly: “Oh, sorry—nothing portentous3 about it. Did you think it was a family
council? No, I’m just rather tired today, that’s all. None of you need come up after dinner. I shall
go to bed. I want to be fresh for Christmas Day.”
He grinned at them. George said earnestly:
“Of course . . . of course. . . .”
Simeon said: “Grand old institution, Christmas. Promotes solidarity4 of family feeling. What
do you think, Magdalene, my dear?”
Magdalene Lee jumped. Her rather silly little mouth flew open and then shut itself. She said:
“Oh—oh, yes!”
Don’t suppose you made much of Christmas. It needs a big family for that!”
“Well—well—yes, perhaps it does.”
Simeon’s eyes slid past her.
“Don’t want to talk of anything unpleasant at this time of year, but you know, George, I’m
afraid I’ll have to cut down your allowance a bit. My establishment here is going to cost me a bit
more to run in future.”
George got very red.
“But look here, Father, you can’t do that!”
Simeon said softly: “Oh, can’t I!”
“My expenses are very heavy already. Very heavy. As it is, I don’t know how I make both
ends meet. It needs the most rigorous economy.”
“Let your wife do a bit more of it,” said Simeon. “Women are good at that sort of thing. They
often think of economies where a man would never have dreamt of them. And a clever woman can
make her own clothes. My wife, I remember, was clever with her needle. About all she was clever
with—a good woman, but deadly dull—”
David sprang up. His father said:
“Sit down, boy, you’ll knock something over—”
David said: “My mother—”
Simeon said: “Your mother had the brains of a louse! And it seems to me she’s transmitted
those brains to her children.” He raised himself up suddenly. A red spot appeared on each cheek.
You’re not men! You’re weaklings—a set of namby-pamby weaklings. Pilar’s worth any two of
you put together! I’ll swear to heaven I’ve got a better son somewhere in the world than any of
you, even if you are born the right side of the blanket!”
He had jumped up and stood there, a frown on his usually good-humoured face. Simeon
snapped:
the world! I tell you I’m sick of the sight of you all! Get out!”
He leaned back in his chair, panting a little.
Slowly, one by one, his family went out. George was red and indignant. Magdalene looked
in a dream. Lydia followed him with her head held high. Only Hilda paused in the doorway and
came slowly back.
There was something menacing in the solid way she stood there quite immovably.
Hilda said: “When your letter came I believed what you said—that you wanted your family
round you for Christmas, I persuaded David to come.”
Simeon said: “Well, what of it?”
Hilda said slowly: “You did want your family round you—but not for the purpose you said!
You wanted them there, didn’t you, in order to set them all by the ears? God help you, it’s your
idea of fun!”
anyone else to appreciate the joke. I’m enjoying it!”
She said nothing. A vague feeling of apprehension15 came over Simeon Lee. He said sharply:
“What are you thinking about?”
Hilda Lee said slowly: “I’m afraid. . . .”
Simeon said: “You’re afraid—of me?”
Hilda said: “Not of you. I’m afraid—for you!”
Like a judge who has delivered sentence, she turned away. She marched, slowly and heavily,
out of the room. . . .
Simeon sat staring at the door.
Then he got to his feet and made his way over to the safe. He murmured: “Let’s have a look
at my beauties.”
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1
doorway
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n.门口,(喻)入门;门路,途径 | |
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2
glum
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adj.闷闷不乐的,阴郁的 | |
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3
portentous
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adj.不祥的,可怕的,装腔作势的 | |
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4
solidarity
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n.团结;休戚相关 | |
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5
retired
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adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 | |
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6
naval
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adj.海军的,军舰的,船的 | |
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7
shrill
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adj.尖声的;刺耳的;v尖叫 | |
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8
harry
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vt.掠夺,蹂躏,使苦恼 | |
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9
whined
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v.哀号( whine的过去式和过去分词 );哀诉,诉怨 | |
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10
blustered
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v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的过去式和过去分词 );咆哮;(风)呼啸;狂吹 | |
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11
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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12
irritably
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ad.易生气地 | |
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13
chuckled
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轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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14
specialized
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adj.专门的,专业化的 | |
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apprehension
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n.理解,领悟;逮捕,拘捕;忧虑 | |
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