an unprotected female at the pyramids-第5章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


everything；　and　let　me　settle　with　you　in　one　sum　afterwards。〃

Mr。　Damer's　breath　was　now　rather　more　under　his　own　command。　　〃I　am
afraid；　Miss　Dawkins；〃　he　said；　〃that　Mrs。　Damer's　weak　state　of　health
will　not　admit　of　such　an　arrangement。〃

〃What；　about　the　paying？〃

〃Not　only　as　to　that；　but　we　are　a　family　party；　Miss　Dawkins；　and
great　as　would　be　the　benefit　of　your　society　to　all　of　us；　in　Mrs。
Damer's　present　state　of　health；　I　am　afraidin　short；　you　would　not
find　it　agreeable。And　therefore〃　this　he　added；　seeing　that　she　was
still　about　to　persevere〃I　fear　that　we　must　forego　the　advantage　you
offer。〃

And　then；　looking　into　his　face；　Miss　Dawkins　did　perceive　that　even
her　audacity　would　not　prevail。

〃Oh；　very　well；〃　she　said；　and　moving　from　the　stone　on　which　she　had
been　sitting；　she　walked　off；　carrying　her　head　very　high；　to　a　corner
of　the　Pyramid　from　which　she　could　look　forth　alone　towards　the　sands
of　Libya。

In　the　mean　time　another　little　overture　was　being　made　on　the　top　of
the　same　Pyramid；an　overture　which　was　not　received　quite　in　the　same
spirit。　　While　Mr。　Damer　was　recovering　his　breath　for　the　sake　of
answering　Miss　Dawkins；　Miss　Damer　had　walked　to　the　further　corner　of
the　square　platform　on　which　they　were　placed；　and　there　sat　herself
down　with　her　face　turned　towards　Cairo。　　Perhaps　it　was　not　singular
that　Mr。　Ingram　should　have　followed　her。

This　would　have　been　very　well　if　a　dozen　Arabs　had　not　also　followed
them。　　But　as　this　was　the　case；　Mr。　Ingram　had　to　play　his　game　under
some　difficulty。　　He　had　no　sooner　seated　himself　beside　her　than　they
came　and　stood　directly　in　front　of　the　seat；　shutting　out　the　view；
and　by　no　means　improving　the　fragrance　of　the　air　around　them。

〃And　this；　then；　Miss　Damer；　will　be　our　last　excursion　together；〃　he
said；　in　his　tenderest；　softest　tone。

〃De　good　Englishman　will　gib　de　poor　Arab　one　little　backsheish；〃　said
an　Arab；　putting　out　his　hand　and　shaking　Mr。　Ingram's　shoulder。

〃Yes；　yes；　yes；　him　gib　backsheish；〃　said　another。

〃Him　berry　good　man；〃　said　a　third；　putting　up　his　filthy　hand；　and
touching　Mr。　Ingram's　face。

〃And　young　lady　berry　good；　too；　she　give　backsheish　to　poor　Arab。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　a　fourth；　preparing　to　take　a　similar　liberty　with　Miss
Damer。

This　was　too　much　for　Mr。　Ingram。　　He　had　already　used　very　positive
language　in　his　endeavour　to　assure　his　tormentors　that　they　would　not
get　a　piastre　from　him。　　But　this　only　changed　their　soft　persuasions
into　threats。　　Upon　hearing　which；　and　upon　seeing　what　the　man
attempted　to　do　in　his　endeavour　to　get　money　from　Miss　Damer；　he
raised　his　stick；　and　struck　first　one　and　then　the　other　as　violently
as　he　could　upon　their　heads。

Any　ordinary　civilised　men　would　have　been　stunned　by　such　blows；　for
they　fell　on　the　bare　foreheads　of　the　Arabs；　but　the　objects　of　the
American's　wrath　merely　skulked　away；　and　the　others；　convinced　by　the
only　arguments　which　they　understood；　followed　in　pursuit　of　victims
who　might　be　less　pugnacious。

It　is　hard　for　a　man　to　be　at　once　tender　and　pugnaciousto　be
sentimental；　while　he　is　putting　forth　his　physical　strength　with　all
the　violence　in　his　power。　　It　is　difficult；　also；　for　him　to　be　gentle
instantly　after　having　been　in　a　rage。　　So　he　changed　his　tactics　at
the　moment；　and　came　to　the　point　at　once　in　a　manner　befitting　his
present　state　of　mind。

〃Those　vile　wretches　have　put　me　in　such　a　heat；〃　he　said；　〃that　I
hardly　know　what　I　am　saying。　　But　the　fact　is　this；　Miss　Damer；　I
cannot　leave　Cairo　without　knowing。　　You　understand　what　I　mean；　Miss
Damer。〃

〃Indeed　I　do　not；　Mr。　Ingram；　except　that　I　am　afraid　you　mean
nonsense。〃

〃Yes；　you　do；　you　know　that　I　love　you。　　I　am　sure　you　must　know　it。
At　any　rate　you　know　it　now。〃

〃Mr。　Ingram；　you　should　not　talk　in　such　a　way。〃

〃Why　should　I　not？　　But　the　truth　is；　Fanny；　I　can　talk　in　no　other
way。　　I　do　love　you　dearly。　　Can　you　love　me　well　enough　to　go　and　be
my　wife　in　a　country　far　away　from　your　own？〃

Before　she　left　the　top　of　the　Pyramid　Fanny　Damer　had　said　that　she
would　try。

Mr。　Ingram　was　now　a　proud　and　happy　man；　and　seemed　to　think　the　steps
of　the　Pyramid　too　small　for　his　elastic　energy。　　But　Fanny　feared　that
her　troubles　were　to　come。　　There　was　papathat　terrible　bugbear　on
all　such　occasions。　　What　would　papa　say？　　She　was　sure　her　papa　would
not　allow　her　to　marry　and　go　so　far　away　from　her　own　family　and
country。　　For　herself；　she　liked　the　Americansalways　had　liked　them；
so　she　said；would　desire　nothing　better　than　to　live　among　them。　　But
papa！　　And　Fanny　sighed　as　she　felt　that　all　the　recognised　miseries　of
a　young　lady　in　love　were　about　to　fall　upon　her。

Nevertheless；　at　her　lover's　instance；　she　promised；　and　declared；　in
twenty　different　loving　phrases；　that　nothing　on　earth　should　ever　make
her　false　to　her　love　or　to　her　lover。

〃Fanny；　where　are　you？　　Why　are　you　not　ready　to　come　down？〃　shouted
Mr。　Damer；　not　in　the　best　of　tempers。　　He　felt　that　he　had　almost　been
unkind　to　an　unprotected　female；　and　his　heart　misgave　him。　　And　yet　it
would　have　misgiven　him　more　had　he　allowed　himself　to　be　entrapped　by
Miss　Dawkins。

〃I　am　quite　ready；　papa；〃　said　Fanny；　running　up　to　himfor　it　may　be
understood　that　there　is　quite　room　enough　for　a　young　lady　to　run　on
the　top　of　the　Pyramid。

〃I　am　sure　I　don't　know　where　you　have　been　all　the　time；〃　said　Mr。
Damer；　〃and　where　are　those　two　boys？〃

Fanny　pointed　to　the　top　of　the　other　Pyramid；　and　there　they　were；
conspicuous　with　their　red　caps。

〃And　M。　Delabordeau？〃

〃Oh！　he　has　gone　down；　I　think；no；　he　is　there　with　Miss　Dawkins。〃
And　in　truth　Miss　Dawkins　was　leaning　on　his　arm　most　affectionately；
as　she　stooped　over　and　looked　down　upon　the　ruins　below　her。

〃And　where　is　that　fellow；　Ingram？〃　said　Mr。　Damer；　looking　about　him。
〃He　is　always　out　of　the　way　when　he's　wanted。〃

To　this　Fanny　said　nothing。　　Why　should　she？　　She　was　not　Mr。　Ingram's
keeper。

And　then　they　all　descended；　each　again　with　his　proper　number　of　Arabs
to　hurry　and　embarrass　him；　and　they　found　Mr。　Damer　at　the　bottom；
like　a　piece　of　sugar　covered　with　flies。　　She　was　heard　to　declare
afterwards　that　she　would　not　go　to　the　Pyramids　again；　not　if　they
were　to　be　given　to　her　for　herself；　as　ornaments　for　her　garden。

The　picnic　lunch　among　the　big　stones　at　the　foot　of　the　Pyramid　was
not　a　very　gay　affair。　　Miss　Dawkins　talked　more　than　any　one　else；
being　determined　to　show　that　she　bore　her　defeat　gallantly。　　Her
conversation；　however；　was　chiefly　addressed　to　M。　Delabordeau；　and　he
seemed　to　think　more　of　his　cold　chicken　and　ham　than　he　did　of　her　wit
and　attention。

Fanny　hardly　spoke　a　word。　　There　was　her　father　before　her　and　she
could　not　eat；　much　less　talk；　as　she　thought　of　all　that　she　would
have　to　go　through。　　What　would　he　say　to　the　idea　of　having　an
American　for　a　son…in…law？

Nor　was　Mr。　Ingram　very　lively。　　A　young　man　when　he　has　been　just
accepted；　never　is　so。　　His　happiness　under　the　present　circumstances
was；　no　doubt；　intense；　but　it　was　of　a　silent　nature。

And　then　the　interior　of　the　building　had　to　be　visited。　　To　tell　the
truth　none　of　the　party　would　have　cared　to　perform　this　feat　had　it
not　been　for　the　honour　of　the　thing。　　To　have　come　from　Paris；　New
York；　or　London；　to　the　Pyramids；　and　then　not　to　have　visited　the　very
tomb　of　Cheops；　would　have　shown　on　the　part　of　all　of　them　an
indifference　to　subjects　of　interest　which　would　have　been　altogether
fatal　to　their　character　as　travellers。　　And　so　a　party　for　the
interior　was　made　up。

Miss　Damer　when　she　saw　the　aperture　through　which　it　was　expected　that
she　should　descend；　at　once　declared　for　staying　with　her　mother。　　Miss
Dawkins；　however；　was　enthusiastic　for　the　journey。　　〃Persons　with　so
very　little　command　over　their　nerves　might　really　as　well　stay　at
home；〃　she　said　to　Mr。　Ingram；　who　glowered　at　her　dreadfully　for
expressing　such　an　opinion　about　his　Fanny。

This　entrance　into　the　Pyramids　is　a　terrible　task；　which　should　be
undertaken　by　no　lady。　　Those　who　perform　it　have　to　creep　down；　and
then　to　be　dragged　up；　through　infinite　dirt；　foul　smells；　and　bad　air；
and　when　they　have　done　it；　they　see　nothing。　　But　they　do　earn　the
gratification　of　saying　that　they　have　been　inside　a　Pyramid。

〃Well；　I've　done　that　once；〃　said　Mr。　Damer；　coming　out；　〃and　I　do　not
think　that　any　one　will　catch　me　doing　it　again。　　I　never　was　in　such　a
filthy　place　in　my　life。〃

〃Oh；　Fanny！　I　am　so　glad　you　did　not　go；　I　am　sure　it　is　not　fit　for
ladies；〃　said　poor　Mrs。　Damer；　forgetful　of　her　friend　Miss　Dawkins。

〃I　should　have　been　ashamed　of　myself；〃　said　Miss　Dawkins；　bristling
up；　and　throwing　back　her　head　as　she　stood；　〃if　I　had　allowed　any
consideration　to　have　prevented　my　visiting　such　a　spot。　　If　it　be　not
improper　for　men　to　go　there；　how　can　it　be　improper　for　women？〃

〃I　did　not　say　improper；　my　dear；〃　said　Mrs。　Damer；　apologetically。

〃And　as　for　the　fatigue；　what　can　a　woman　be　worth　who　is　afraid　to
encounter　as　much　as　I　have　now　gone　through　for　the　sake　of　visiting
the　last　resting…place　of　such　a　king　as　Cheops？〃　　And　Miss　Dawkins；　as
she　pronounced　the　last　words；　looked　round　her　with　disdain　upon　poor
Fanny　Damer。

〃But　I　meant　the　dirt；〃　said　Mrs。　Damer。

〃Dirt！〃　ejaculated　Miss　Dawkins；　and　then　walked　away。　　Why　should　she
now　submit　her　high　tone　of　feeling　to　the　Damers；　or　why　care　longer
for　their　good　opinion？　　Therefore　she　scattered　contempt　around　her　as
she　ejaculated　the　last　word；　〃dirt。〃

And　then　the　return　home！　　〃I　know　I　shall　never　get　there；〃　said　Mrs。
Damer；　looking　piteously　up　into　her　husband's　face。

〃Nonsense；　my　dear；　nonsense；　you　must　get　there。〃　　Mrs。　Damer　groaned；
and　acknowledged　in　her　heart　that　she　must；either　dead　or　alive。

〃And；　Jefferson；〃　said　Fanny；　whisperingfor　there　had　been　a　moment
since　their　descent　in　which　she　had　been　instructed　to　call　him　by　his
Christian　name〃never　mind　talking　to　me　going　home。　　I　will　ride　by
mamma。　　Do　you　go　with　papa　and　put　him　in　good　humour；　and　it　he　says
anything　about　the　lords　and　the　bishops；　don't　you　contradict　him；　you
know。〃

What　will　not　a　man　do　for　love？　　Mr。　Ingram　promised。

And　in　this　way　they　started；　the　two　boys　led　the　van；　then　came　Mr。
Damer　and　Mr。　Ingram；　unusually　and　unpatriotically　acquiescent　as　to
England's　aristocratic　propensities；　then　Miss　Dawkins　riding；　alas！
alone；　after　her；　M。　Delabordeau；　also　alone；the　ungallant　Frenchman！
And　the　rear　was　brought　up　by　Mrs。　Damer　and　her　daughter；　flanked　on
each　side　by　a　dragoman；　with　a　third　dragoman　behind　them。

And　in　this　order　they　went　back　to　Cairo；　riding　their　donkeys；　and
crossing　the　ferry　solemnly；　and；　for　the　most　part；　silently。　　Mr。
Ingram　did　talk；　as　he　had　an　important　object　in　view；that　of
putting　Mr。　Damer　into　a　good　humour。

In　this　he　succeeded　so　well　that　by　the　time　they　had　remounted；　after
crossing　the　Nile；　Mr。　Damer　opened　his　heart　to　his　companion　on　the
subject　that　was　troubling　him；　and　told　him　all　about　Mi