When the altercation1 between the policeman and the musician in the gutter2 was at its height, Samuel Povey became restless; but since he had scarcely stirred through the performances of the bands, it was probably not the cries of the drunkard that had aroused him.
He had shown very little interest in the preliminaries of the great demonstration3. The flame of his passion for the case of Daniel Povey seemed to have shot up on the day before the execution, and then to have expired. On that day he went to Stafford in order, by permit of the prison governor, to see his cousin for the last time. His condition then was undoubtedly4 not far removed from monomania. 'Unhinged' was the conventional expression which frequently rose in Constance's mind as a description of the mind of her husband; but she fought it down; she would not have it; it was too crude--with its associations. She would only admit that the case had 'got on' his mind. A startling proof of this was that he actually suggested taking Cyril with him to see the condemned5 man. He wished Cyril to see Daniel; he said gravely that he thought Cyril ought to see him. The proposal was monstrous6, inexplicable--or explicable only by the assumption that his mind, while not unhinged, had temporarily lost its balance. Constance opposed an absolute negative, and Samuel being in every way enfeebled, she overcame. As for Cyril, he was divided between fear and curiosity. On the whole, perhaps Cyril regretted that he would not be able to say at school that he had had speech with the most celebrated7 killer8 of the age on the day before his execution.
Samuel returned hysterical9 from Stafford. His account of the scene, which he gave in a very loud voice, was a most absurd and yet pathetic recital10, obviously distorted by memory. When he came to the point of the entrance of Dick Povey, who was still at the hospital, and who had been specially11 driven to Stafford and carried into the prison, he wept without restraint. His hysteria was painful in a very high degree.
He went to bed--of his own accord, for his cough had improved again. And on the following day, the day of the execution, he remained in bed till the afternoon. In the evening the Rector sent for him to the Rectory to discuss the proposed demonstration. On the next day, Saturday, he said he should not get up. Icy showers were sweeping12 the town, and his cough was worse after the evening visit to the Rector. Constance had no apprehensions13 about him. The most dangerous part of the winter was over, and there was nothing now to force him into indiscretions. She said to herself calmly that he should stay in bed as long as he liked, that he could not have too much repose14 after the cruel fatigues15, physical and spiritual, which he had suffered. His cough was short, but not as troublesome as in the past; his face flushed, dusky, and settled in gloom; and he was slightly feverish16, with quick pulse and quick breathing--the symptoms of a renewed cold. He passed a wakeful night, broken by brief dreams in which he talked. At dawn he had some hot food, asked what day it was, frowned, and seemed to doze17 off at once. At eleven o'clock he had refused food. And he had intermittently18 dozed19 during the progress of the demonstration and its orgiastic sequel.
Constance had food ready for his waking, and she approached the bed and leaned over him. The fever had increased somewhat, the breathing was more rapid, and his lips were covered with tiny purple pimples20. He feebly shook his head, with a disgusted air, at her mention of food. It was this obstinate21 refusal of food which first alarmed her. A little uncomfortable suspicion shot up in her: Surely there's nothing the MATTER with him?
Something--impossible to say what--caused her to bend still lower, and put her ear to his chest. She heard within that mysterious box a rapid succession of thin, dry, crackling sounds: sounds such as she would have produced by rubbing her hair between her fingers close to her ear. The crepitation ceased, then recommenced, and she perceived that it coincided with the intake22 of his breath. He coughed; the sounds were intensified23; a spasm24 of pain ran over his face; and he put his damp hand to his side.
"Pain in my side!" he whispered with difficulty.
Constance stepped into the drawing-room, where Cyril was sketching25 by the fire.
"Cyril," she said, "go across and ask Dr. Harrop to come round at once. And if he isn't in, then his new partner."
"Is it for father?"
"Yes."
"What's the matter?"
"Now do as I say, please," said Constance, sharply, adding: "I don't know what's the matter. Perhaps nothing. But I'm not satisfied."
The venerable Harrop pronounced the word 'pneumonia26.' It was acute double pneumonia that Samuel had got. During the three worst months of the year, he had escaped the fatal perils27 which await a man with a flat chest and a chronic28 cough, who ignores his condition and defies the weather. But a journey of five hundred yards to the Rectory had been one journey too many. The Rectory was so close to the shop that he had not troubled to wrap himself up as for an excursion to Stafford. He survived the crisis of the disease and then died of toxsemia, caused by a heart that would not do its duty by the blood. A casual death, scarce noticed in the reaction after the great febrile demonstration! Besides, Samuel Povey never could impose himself on the burgesses. He lacked individuality. He was little. I have often laughed at Samuel Povey. But I liked and respected him. He was a very honest man. I have always been glad to think that, at the end of his life, destiny took hold of him and displayed, to the observant, the vein29 of greatness which runs through every soul without exception. He embraced a cause, lost it, and died of it.
1 altercation | |
n.争吵,争论 | |
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2 gutter | |
n.沟,街沟,水槽,檐槽,贫民窟 | |
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3 demonstration | |
n.表明,示范,论证,示威 | |
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4 undoubtedly | |
adv.确实地,无疑地 | |
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5 condemned | |
adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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6 monstrous | |
adj.巨大的;恐怖的;可耻的,丢脸的 | |
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7 celebrated | |
adj.有名的,声誉卓著的 | |
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8 killer | |
n.杀人者,杀人犯,杀手,屠杀者 | |
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9 hysterical | |
adj.情绪异常激动的,歇斯底里般的 | |
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10 recital | |
n.朗诵,独奏会,独唱会 | |
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11 specially | |
adv.特定地;特殊地;明确地 | |
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12 sweeping | |
adj.范围广大的,一扫无遗的 | |
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13 apprehensions | |
疑惧 | |
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14 repose | |
v.(使)休息;n.安息 | |
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15 fatigues | |
n.疲劳( fatigue的名词复数 );杂役;厌倦;(士兵穿的)工作服 | |
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16 feverish | |
adj.发烧的,狂热的,兴奋的 | |
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17 doze | |
v.打瞌睡;n.打盹,假寐 | |
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18 intermittently | |
adv.间歇地;断断续续 | |
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19 dozed | |
v.打盹儿,打瞌睡( doze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20 pimples | |
n.丘疹,粉刺,小脓疱( pimple的名词复数 ) | |
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21 obstinate | |
adj.顽固的,倔强的,不易屈服的,较难治愈的 | |
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22 intake | |
n.吸入,纳入;进气口,入口 | |
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23 intensified | |
v.(使)增强, (使)加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24 spasm | |
n.痉挛,抽搐;一阵发作 | |
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25 sketching | |
n.草图 | |
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26 pneumonia | |
n.肺炎 | |
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27 perils | |
极大危险( peril的名词复数 ); 危险的事(或环境) | |
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28 chronic | |
adj.(疾病)长期未愈的,慢性的;极坏的 | |
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29 vein | |
n.血管,静脉;叶脉,纹理;情绪;vt.使成脉络 | |
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