°®°®Ð¡ËµÍø > ÆäËûµç×ÓÊé > armadale >

µÚ3ÕÂ

armadale-µÚ3ÕÂ

С˵£º armadale ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



that¡¡you¡¡are¡¡losing¡¡the¡¡thread¡¡of¡¡the¡¡narrative¡£¡¨

¡¨Nothing¡¡more¡¡likely£»¡¨¡¡returned¡¡the¡¡doctor£»¡¡recovering¡¡his¡¡good
humor¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡is¡¡in¡¡the¡¡habit¡¡of¡¡my¡¡nation¡¡to¡¡be¡¡perpetually¡¡losing
the¡¡thread£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡is¡¡evidently¡¡in¡¡the¡¡habit¡¡of¡¡yours£»¡¡sir£»¡¡to¡¡be
perpetually¡¡finding¡¡it¡£¡¡What¡¡an¡¡example¡¡here¡¡of¡¡the¡¡order¡¡of¡¡the
universe£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡everlasting¡¡fitness¡¡of¡¡things£¡¡¨

¡¨Will¡¡you¡¡oblige¡¡me£»¡¡once¡¡for¡¡all£»¡¡by¡¡confining¡¡yourself¡¡to¡¡the
facts£»¡¨¡¡persisted¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Neal£»¡¡frowning¡¡impatiently¡£¡¡¡¨May¡¡I¡¡inquire£»
for¡¡my¡¡own¡¡information£»¡¡whether¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale¡¡could¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡what
it¡¡is¡¡her¡¡husband¡¡wishes¡¡me¡¡to¡¡write£»¡¡and¡¡why¡¡it¡¡is¡¡that¡¡he
refuses¡¡to¡¡let¡¡her¡¡write¡¡for¡¡him£¿¡¨

¡¨There¡¡is¡¡my¡¡thread¡¡foundand¡¡thank¡¡you¡¡for¡¡finding¡¡it£¡¡¨¡¡said
the¡¡doctor¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡shall¡¡hear¡¡what¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale¡¡had¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡me£»¡¡in
Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale's¡¡own¡¡words¡£¡¡'The¡¡cause¡¡that¡¡now¡¡shuts¡¡me¡¡out¡¡of
his¡¡confidence£»'¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡'is£»¡¡I¡¡firmly¡¡believe£»¡¡the¡¡same¡¡cause
that¡¡has¡¡always¡¡shut¡¡me¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his¡¡heart¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡the¡¡wife¡¡he¡¡has
wedded£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡he¡¡loves¡£¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡when¡¡he¡¡married
me¡¡that¡¡another¡¡man¡¡had¡¡won¡¡from¡¡him¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡he¡¡loved¡£¡¡I
thought¡¡I¡¡could¡¡make¡¡him¡¡forget¡¡her¡£¡¡I¡¡hoped¡¡when¡¡I¡¡married¡¡him£»
I¡¡hoped¡¡again¡¡when¡¡I¡¡bore¡¡him¡¡a¡¡son¡£¡¡Need¡¡I¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of
my¡¡hopesyou¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡it¡¡for¡¡yourself¡£'¡¡£¨Wait£»¡¡sir£»¡¡I¡¡entreat
you£¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡not¡¡lost¡¡the¡¡thread¡¡again£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡following¡¡it¡¡inch¡¡by
inch¡££©¡¡'Is¡¡this¡¡all¡¡you¡¡know£¿'¡¡I¡¡asked¡£¡¡'All¡¡I¡¡knew£»'¡¡she¡¡said£»
'till¡¡a¡¡short¡¡time¡¡since¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡when¡¡we¡¡were¡¡in¡¡Switzerland£»¡¡and
when¡¡his¡¡illness¡¡was¡¡nearly¡¡at¡¡its¡¡worst£»¡¡that¡¡news¡¡came¡¡to¡¡him
by¡¡accident¡¡of¡¡that¡¡other¡¡woman¡¡who¡¡has¡¡been¡¡the¡¡shadow¡¡and¡¡the
poison¡¡of¡¡my¡¡lifenews¡¡that¡¡she¡¡£¨like¡¡me£©¡¡had¡¡borne¡¡her¡¡husband
a¡¡son¡£¡¡On¡¡the¡¡instant¡¡of¡¡his¡¡making¡¡that¡¡discoverya¡¡trifling
discovery£»¡¡if¡¡ever¡¡there¡¡was¡¡one¡¡yeta¡¡mortal¡¡fear¡¡seized¡¡on
him£º¡¡not¡¡for¡¡me£»¡¡not¡¡for¡¡himself£»¡¡a¡¡fear¡¡for¡¡his¡¡own¡¡child¡£¡¡The
same¡¡day¡¡£¨without¡¡a¡¡word¡¡to¡¡me£©¡¡he¡¡sent¡¡for¡¡the¡¡doctor¡£¡¡I¡¡was
mean£»¡¡wicked£»¡¡what¡¡you¡¡pleaseI¡¡listened¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡I¡¡heard
him¡¡say£º¡¡_I¡¡have¡¡something¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡my¡¡son£»¡¡when¡¡my¡¡son¡¡grows¡¡old
enough¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡me¡£¡¡Shall¡¡I¡¡live¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡it£¿_¡¡The¡¡doctor
would¡¡say¡¡nothing¡¡certain¡£¡¡The¡¡same¡¡night¡¡£¨still¡¡without¡¡a¡¡word
to¡¡me£©¡¡he¡¡locked¡¡himself¡¡into¡¡his¡¡room¡£¡¡What¡¡would¡¡any¡¡woman£»
treated¡¡as¡¡I¡¡was£»¡¡have¡¡done¡¡in¡¡my¡¡place£¿¡¡She¡¡would¡¡have¡¡done¡¡as¡¡I
didshe¡¡would¡¡have¡¡list¡¡ened¡¡again¡£¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡him¡¡say¡¡to¡¡himself£º
_I¡¡shall¡¡not¡¡live¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡it£º¡¡I¡¡must£»¡¡write¡¡it¡¡before¡¡I¡¡die¡£_¡¡I
heard¡¡his¡¡pen¡¡scrape£»¡¡scrape£»¡¡scrape¡¡over¡¡the¡¡paper£»¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡him
groaning¡¡and¡¡sobbing¡¡as¡¡he¡¡wrote£»¡¡I¡¡implored¡¡him¡¡for¡¡God's¡¡sake
to¡¡let¡¡me¡¡in¡£¡¡The¡¡cruel¡¡pen¡¡went¡¡scrape£»¡¡scrape£»¡¡scrape£»¡¡the
cruel¡¡pen¡¡was¡¡all¡¡the¡¡answer¡¡he¡¡gave¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡waited¡¡at¡¡the
doorhoursI¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡how¡¡long¡£¡¡On¡¡a¡¡sudden£»¡¡the¡¡pen¡¡stopped£»
and¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡no¡¡more¡£¡¡I¡¡whispered¡¡through¡¡the¡¡keyhole¡¡softly£»¡¡I
said¡¡I¡¡was¡¡cold¡¡and¡¡weary¡¡with¡¡waiting£»¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡Oh£»¡¡my¡¡love£»¡¡let
me¡¡in£¡¡¡Not¡¡even¡¡the¡¡cruel¡¡pen¡¡answered¡¡me¡¡now£º¡¡silence¡¡answered
me¡£¡¡With¡¡all¡¡the¡¡strength¡¡of¡¡my¡¡miserable¡¡hands¡¡I¡¡beat¡¡at¡¡the
door¡£¡¡The¡¡servants¡¡came¡¡up¡¡and¡¡broke¡¡it¡¡in¡£¡¡We¡¡were¡¡too¡¡late£»¡¡the
harm¡¡was¡¡done¡£¡¡Over¡¡that¡¡fatal¡¡letter£»¡¡the¡¡stroke¡¡had¡¡struck
himover¡¡that¡¡fatal¡¡letter£»¡¡we¡¡found¡¡him¡¡paralyzed¡¡as¡¡you¡¡see
him¡¡now¡£¡¡Those¡¡words¡¡which¡¡he¡¡wants¡¡you¡¡to¡¡write¡¡are¡¡the¡¡words¡¡he
would¡¡have¡¡written¡¡himself¡¡if¡¡the¡¡stroke¡¡had¡¡spared¡¡him¡¡till¡¡the
morning¡¡From¡¡that¡¡time¡¡to¡¡this¡¡there¡¡has¡¡been¡¡a¡¡blank¡¡place¡¡left
in¡¡the¡¡letter£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡is¡¡that¡¡blank¡¡place¡¡which¡¡he¡¡has¡¡just¡¡asked
you¡¡to¡¡fill¡¡up¡£'In¡¡those¡¡words¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale¡¡spoke¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡in
those¡¡words¡¡you¡¡have¡¡the¡¡sum¡¡and¡¡substance¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡information
I¡¡can¡¡give¡£¡¡Say£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡please£»¡¡sir£»¡¡have¡¡I¡¡kept¡¡the¡¡thread¡¡at
last£¿¡¡Have¡¡I¡¡shown¡¡you¡¡the¡¡necessity¡¡which¡¡brings¡¡me¡¡here¡¡from
your¡¡countryman's¡¡death¡­bed£¿¡¨

¡¨Thus¡¡far£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Neal£»¡¡¡¨you¡¡merely¡¡show¡¡me¡¡that¡¡you¡¡are
exciting¡¡yourself¡£¡¡This¡¡is¡¡too¡¡serious¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡to¡¡be¡¡treated¡¡as
you¡¡are¡¡treating¡¡it¡¡now¡£¡¡You¡¡have¡¡involved¡¡Me¡¡in¡¡the¡¡business£»
and¡¡I¡¡insist¡¡on¡¡seeing¡¡my¡¡way¡¡plainly¡£¡¡Don't¡¡raise¡¡your¡¡hands£»
your¡¡hands¡¡are¡¡not¡¡a¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡question¡£¡¡If¡¡I¡¡am¡¡to¡¡be
concerned¡¡in¡¡the¡¡completion¡¡of¡¡this¡¡mysterious¡¡letter£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡only
an¡¡act¡¡of¡¡justifiable¡¡prudence¡¡on¡¡my¡¡part¡¡to¡¡inquire¡¡what¡¡the
letter¡¡is¡¡about¡£¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale¡¡appears¡¡to¡¡have¡¡favored¡¡you¡¡with
an¡¡infinite¡¡number¡¡of¡¡domestic¡¡particularsin¡¡return£»¡¡I¡¡presume£»
for¡¡your¡¡polite¡¡attention¡¡in¡¡taking¡¡her¡¡by¡¡the¡¡hand¡£¡¡May¡¡I¡¡ask
what¡¡she¡¡could¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡about¡¡her¡¡husband's¡¡letter£»¡¡so¡¡far¡¡as¡¡her
husband¡¡has¡¡written¡¡it£¿¡¨

¡¨Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale¡¡could¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡nothing£»¡¨¡¡replied¡¡the¡¡doctor£»¡¡with¡¡a
sudden¡¡formality¡¡in¡¡his¡¡manner£»¡¡which¡¡showed¡¡that¡¡his¡¡forbearance
was¡¡at¡¡last¡¡failing¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¨Before¡¡she¡¡was¡¡composed¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡think
of¡¡the¡¡letter£»¡¡her¡¡husband¡¡had¡¡asked¡¡for¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡caused¡¡it¡¡to
be¡¡locked¡¡up¡¡in¡¡his¡¡desk¡£¡¡She¡¡knows¡¡that¡¡he¡¡has¡¡since£»¡¡time¡¡after
time£»¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡finish¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡that£»¡¡time¡¡after¡¡time£»¡¡the¡¡pen¡¡has
dropped¡¡from¡¡his¡¡fingers¡£¡¡She¡¡knows£»¡¡when¡¡all¡¡other¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡his
restoration¡¡was¡¡at¡¡an¡¡end£»¡¡that¡¡his¡¡medical¡¡advisers¡¡encouraged
him¡¡to¡¡hope¡¡in¡¡the¡¡famous¡¡waters¡¡of¡¡this¡¡place¡£¡¡And¡¡last£»¡¡she
knows¡¡how¡¡that¡¡hope¡¡has¡¡ended£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡knows¡¡what¡¡I¡¡told¡¡her
husband¡¡this¡¡morning¡£¡¨

The¡¡frown¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡gathering¡¡latterly¡¡on¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Neal's¡¡face
deepened¡¡and¡¡darkened¡£¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡doctor¡¡as¡¡if¡¡the¡¡doctor
had¡¡personally¡¡offended¡¡him¡£

¡¨The¡¡more¡¡I¡¡think¡¡of¡¡the¡¡position¡¡you¡¡are¡¡asking¡¡me¡¡to¡¡take£»¡¨¡¡he
said£»¡¡¡¨the¡¡less¡¡I¡¡like¡¡it¡£¡¡Can¡¡you¡¡undertake¡¡to¡¡say¡¡positively
that¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Armadale¡¡is¡¡in¡¡his¡¡right¡¡mind£¿¡¨

¡¨Yes£»¡¡as¡¡positively¡¡as¡¡words¡¡can¡¡say¡¡it¡£¡¨

¡¨Does¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡sanction¡¡your¡¡coming¡¡here¡¡to¡¡request¡¡my
interference£¿¡¨

¡¨His¡¡wife¡¡sends¡¡me¡¡to¡¡youthe¡¡only¡¡Englishman¡¡in¡¡Wildbadto
write¡¡for¡¡your¡¡dying¡¡countryman¡¡what¡¡he¡¡cannot¡¡write¡¡for¡¡himself£»
and¡¡what¡¡no¡¡one¡¡else¡¡in¡¡this¡¡place¡¡but¡¡you¡¡can¡¡write¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¨

That¡¡answer¡¡drove¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Neal¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡last¡¡inch¡¡of¡¡ground¡¡left
him¡¡to¡¡stand¡¡on¡£¡¡Even¡¡on¡¡that¡¡inch¡¡the¡¡Scotchman¡¡resisted¡¡still¡£

¡¨Wait¡¡a¡¡little£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡put¡¡it¡¡strongly£»¡¡let¡¡us¡¡be¡¡quite
sure¡¡you¡¡put¡¡it¡¡correctly¡¡as¡¡well¡£¡¡Let¡¡us¡¡be¡¡quite¡¡sure¡¡there¡¡is
nobody¡¡to¡¡take¡¡this¡¡responsibility¡¡but¡¡myself¡£¡¡There¡¡is¡¡a¡¡mayor
in¡¡Wildbad£»¡¡to¡¡begin¡¡witha¡¡man¡¡who¡¡possesses¡¡an¡¡official
character¡¡to¡¡justify¡¡his¡¡interference¡£¡¨

¡¨A¡¡man¡¡of¡¡a¡¡thousand£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡doctor¡£¡¡¡¨With¡¡one¡¡faulthe¡¡knows
no¡¡language¡¡but¡¡his¡¡own¡£¡¨

¡¨There¡¡is¡¡an¡¡English¡¡legation¡¡at¡¡Stuttgart£»¡¨¡¡persisted¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Neal¡£

¡¨And¡¡there¡¡are¡¡miles¡¡on¡¡miles¡¡of¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡between¡¡this¡¡and
Stuttgart£»¡¨¡¡rejoined¡¡the¡¡doctor¡£¡¡¡¨If¡¡we¡¡sent¡¡this¡¡moment£»¡¡we
could¡¡get¡¡no¡¡help¡¡from¡¡the¡¡legation¡¡before¡¡to¡­morrow£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡is
as¡¡likely¡¡as¡¡not£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡state¡¡of¡¡this¡¡dying¡¡man's¡¡articulation£»
that¡¡to¡­morrow¡¡may¡¡find¡¡him¡¡speechless¡£¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡whether¡¡his
last¡¡wishes¡¡are¡¡wishes¡¡harmless¡¡to¡¡his¡¡child¡¡and¡¡to¡¡others£»
wishes¡¡hurtful¡¡to¡¡his¡¡child¡¡and¡¡to¡¡others£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡_do_¡¡know¡¡that
they¡¡must¡¡be¡¡fulfilled¡¡at¡¡once¡¡or¡¡never£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡you¡¡are¡¡the
only¡¡man¡¡that¡¡can¡¡help¡¡him¡£¡¨

That¡¡open¡¡declaration¡¡brought¡¡the¡¡discussion¡¡to¡¡a¡¡close¡£¡¡It¡¡fixed
Mr¡£¡¡Neal¡¡fast¡¡between¡¡the¡¡two¡¡alternatives¡¡of¡¡saying¡¡Yes£»¡¡and
committing¡¡an¡¡act¡¡of¡¡imprudence£»¡¡or¡¡of¡¡saying¡¡No£»¡¡and¡¡committing
an¡¡act¡¡of¡¡inhumanity¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡silence¡¡of¡¡some¡¡minutes¡£¡¡The
Scotchman¡¡steadily¡¡reflected£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡German¡¡steadily¡¡watched
him¡£

The¡¡responsibility¡¡of¡¡saying¡¡the¡¡next¡¡words¡¡rested¡¡on¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Neal£»
and¡¡in¡¡course¡¡of¡¡time¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Neal¡¡took¡¡it¡£¡¡He¡¡rose¡¡from¡¡his¡¡chair
with¡¡a¡¡sullen¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡injury¡¡lowering¡¡on¡¡his¡¡heavy¡¡eyebrows£»¡¡and
working¡¡sourly¡¡in¡¡the¡¡lines¡¡at¡¡the¡¡corners¡¡of¡¡his¡¡mouth¡£

¡¨My¡¡position¡¡is¡¡forced¡¡on¡¡me£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡no¡¡choice¡¡but¡¡to
accept¡¡it¡£¡¨

The¡¡doctor's¡¡impulsive¡¡nature¡¡rose¡¡in¡¡revolt¡¡against¡¡the
merciless¡¡brevity¡¡and¡¡gracelessness¡¡of¡¡that¡¡reply¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡wish¡¡to
God£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡broke¡¡out¡¡fervently£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡knew¡¡English¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡take¡¡your
place¡¡at¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Armadale's¡¡bedside£¡¡¨

¡¨Bating¡¡your¡¡taking¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Almighty¡¡in¡¡vain£»¡¨¡¡answered
the¡¡Scotchman£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡entirely¡¡agree¡¡with¡¡you¡£¡¡I¡¡wish¡¡you¡¡did¡£¡¨

Without¡¡another¡¡word¡¡on¡¡either¡¡side£»¡¡they¡¡left¡¡the¡¡room
togetherthe¡¡doctor¡¡leading¡¡the¡¡way¡£

CHAPTER¡¡III¡£

THE¡¡WRECK¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡TIMBER¡¡SHIP¡£

NO¡¡one¡¡answered¡¡the¡¡doctor's¡¡knock¡¡when¡¡he¡¡and¡¡his¡¡companion
reached¡¡the¡¡antechamber¡¡door¡¡of¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Armadale's¡¡apartments¡£¡¡They
entered¡¡unannounced£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡they¡¡looked¡¡into¡¡the¡¡sitting¡­room£»
the¡¡sitting¡­room¡¡was¡¡empty¡£

¡¨I¡¡must¡¡see¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Neal¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡decline¡¡acting¡¡in
the¡¡matter¡¡unless¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale¡¡authorizes¡¡my¡¡interference¡¡with
her¡¡own¡¡lips¡£¡¨

¡¨Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale¡¡is¡¡probably¡¡with¡¡her¡¡husband£»¡¨¡¡replied¡¡the¡¡doctor¡£
He¡¡approached¡¡a¡¡door¡¡at¡¡the¡¡inner¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sitting¡­room¡¡while
he¡¡spokehesitatedand£»¡¡turning¡¡round¡¡again£»¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡his¡¡sour
companion¡¡anxiously¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡afraid¡¡I¡¡spoke¡¡a¡¡little¡¡harshly£»¡¡sir£»
when¡¡we¡¡were¡¡leaving¡¡your¡¡room£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡beg¡¡your¡¡pardon¡¡for
it£»¡¡with¡¡all¡¡my¡¡heart¡£¡¡Before¡¡this¡¡poor¡¡afflicted¡¡lady¡¡comes¡¡in£»
will¡¡youwill¡¡you¡¡excuse¡¡my¡¡asking¡¡your¡¡utmost¡¡gentleness¡¡and
consideration¡¡for¡¡her£¿¡¨

¡¨No£»¡¡sir£»¡¨¡¡retorted¡¡the¡¡other¡¡harshly£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡won't¡¡excuse¡¡you¡£¡¡What
right¡¡have¡¡I¡¡given¡¡you¡¡to¡¡think¡¡me¡¡wanting¡¡in¡¡gentleness¡¡and
consideration¡¡toward¡¡anybody£¿¡¨

The¡¡doctor¡¡saw¡¡it¡¡was¡¡useless¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡beg¡¡your¡¡pardon¡¡again£»¡¨¡¡he
said£»¡¡resignedly£»¡¡and¡¡left¡¡the¡¡unapproachable¡¡stranger¡¡to
himself¡£

Mr¡£¡¡Neal¡¡walked¡¡to¡¡the¡¡window£»¡¡and¡¡stood¡¡there£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡eyes
mechanically¡¡fixed¡¡on¡¡the¡¡prospect£»¡¡composing¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡for¡¡the
coming¡¡interview¡£

It¡¡was¡¡midday£»¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡shone¡¡bright¡¡and¡¡warm£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡the¡¡little
world¡¡of¡¡Wildbad¡¡was¡¡alive¡¡and¡¡merry¡¡in¡¡the¡¡genial¡¡springtime¡£
Now¡¡and¡¡again¡¡heavy¡¡wagons£»¡¡with¡¡black¡­faced¡¡carters¡¡in¡¡charge£»
rolled¡¡by¡¡the¡¡window£»¡¡bearing¡¡their¡¡precious¡¡lading¡¡of¡¡charcoal
from¡¡the¡¡forest¡£¡¡Now¡¡and¡¡again£»¡¡hurled¡¡over¡¡the¡¡headlong¡¡current
of¡¡the¡¡stream¡¡that¡¡runs¡¡through¡¡the¡¡town£»¡¡great¡¡lengths¡¡of
timber£»¡¡loosely¡¡strung¡¡together¡¡in¡¡interminable¡¡serieswith¡¡the
booted¡¡raftsmen£»¡¡pole¡¡in¡¡hand£»¡¡poised¡¡watchful¡¡at¡¡either
endshot¡¡swift¡¡and¡¡serpent¡­like¡¡past¡¡the¡¡houses¡¡on¡¡their¡¡course
to¡¡the¡¡distant¡¡Rhine¡£¡¡High¡¡and¡¡steep¡¡above¡¡the¡¡gabled¡¡wooden
buildings¡¡on¡¡the¡¡river¡­bank£»¡¡the¡¡great¡¡hillsides£»¡¡crested¡¡black
with¡¡firs£»¡¡shone¡¡to¡¡the¡¡shining¡¡heavens¡¡in¡¡a¡¡glory¡¡of¡¡lustrous
green¡£¡¡In¡¡and¡¡out£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡foot¡­paths¡¡wound¡¡from¡¡the
grass¡¡through¡¡the¡¡trees£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡over¡¡the¡¡grass£»¡¡the
bright¡¡spring¡¡dresses¡¡of¡¡women¡¡and¡¡children£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡search¡¡for
wild¡¡flowers£»¡¡traveled¡¡to¡¡and¡¡fro¡¡in¡¡the¡¡lofty¡¡distance¡¡like
spots¡¡of¡¡moving¡¡light¡£¡¡Below£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡walk¡¡by¡¡the¡¡stream¡¡side£»¡¡the
booths¡¡of¡¡the¡¡little¡¡bazar¡¡that¡¡had¡¡opened¡¡punctually¡¡with¡¡the
opening¡¡season¡¡showed¡¡all¡¡their¡¡glittering¡¡trinkets£»¡¡and
fluttered¡¡in¡¡the¡¡balmy¡¡air¡¡their¡¡splendor¡¡of¡¡m¡¡any¡­colored¡¡flags¡£
Longingly£»¡¡here¡¡the¡¡children¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡show£»¡¡patiently¡¡the
sunburned¡¡lasses¡¡plied¡¡their¡¡knitting¡¡as¡¡they¡¡paced¡¡the¡¡walk£»
courteously¡¡the¡¡passing¡¡townspeople£»¡¡by¡¡fours¡¡and¡¡fives£»¡¡and¡¡the
passing¡¡visitors£»¡¡by¡¡ones¡¡and¡¡twos£»¡¡greeted¡¡each¡¡other£»¡¡hat¡¡in
hand£»¡¡and¡¡slowly£»¡¡slowly£»¡¡the¡¡cripple¡¡and¡¡the¡¡helpless¡¡in¡¡their
chairs¡¡on¡¡wheels¡¡came¡¡out¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cheerful¡¡noontide¡¡with¡¡the¡¡rest£»
and¡¡took¡¡their¡¡share¡¡of¡¡the¡¡blessed¡¡light¡¡that¡¡cheers£»¡¡of¡¡the
blessed¡¡sun¡¡that¡¡shines¡¡for¡¡all¡£

On¡¡this¡¡scene¡¡the¡¡Scotchman¡¡looked£»¡¡with¡¡eyes¡¡that¡¡never¡¡noted
its¡¡beauty£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡mind¡¡far¡¡away¡¡from¡¡every¡¡lesson¡¡that¡¡it
taught¡£¡¡One¡¡by¡¡one¡¡he¡¡meditated¡¡the¡¡wor

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨1£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ