the golden age(金色时代)-第20章
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an exquisite bit！〃 he burst out； 〃fifteenth century；no；yes； it is！〃
I began to feel puzzled； not to say alarmed。 It reminded me of the
butcher in the Arabian Nights； whose common joints； displayed on the
shop…front； took to a startled public the appearance of dismembered
humanity。 This man seemed to see the strangest things in our dull；
familiar surroundings。
〃Ah！〃 he broke out again； as we jogged on between hedgerows： 〃and
that field nowbacked by the downswith the rain…cloud brooding over
it；that's all David Coxevery bit of it！〃
〃That field belongs to Farmer Larkin；〃 I explained politely； for of
course he could not be expected to know。 〃I'll take you over to Farmer
Cox's to…morrow； if he's a friend of yours； but there's nothing to see there。〃
Edward； who was hanging sullenly behind； made a face at me； as if to
say； 〃What sort of lunatic have we got here？〃
〃It has the true pastoral character； this country of yours；〃 went on our
enthusiast： 〃with just that added touch in cottage and farmstead； relics of a
bygone art； which makes our English landscape so divine； so unique！〃
Really this grasshopper was becoming a burden。 These familiar
fields and farms； of which we knew every blade and stick； had done
nothing that I knew of to be bespattered with adjectives in this way。 I
had never thought of them as divine； unique； or anything else。 They
werewell； they were just themselves； and there was an end of it。
Despairingly I jogged Edward in the ribs； as a sign to start rational
conversation； but he only grinned and continued obdurate。
〃You can see the house now；〃 I remarked； presently； 〃and that's Selina；
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chasing the donkey in the paddock；or is it the donkey chasing Selina？ I
can't quite make out； but it's THEM； anyhow。〃
Needless to say； he exploded with a full charge of adjectives。
〃Exquisite！〃 he rapped out； 〃so mellow and harmonious！ and so entirely in
keeping！〃 （I could see from Edward's face that he was thinking who
ought to be in keeping。） 〃Such possibilities of romance； now； in those
old gables！〃
〃If you mean the garrets；〃 I said； 〃there's a lot of old furniture in them；
and one is generally full of apples； and the bats get in sometimes； under
the eaves； and flop about till we go up with hair…brushes and things and
drive 'em out； but there's nothing else in them that I know of。〃
〃Oh； but there must be more than bats；〃 he cried。 〃Don't tell me there
are no ghosts。 I shall be deeply disappointed if there aren't any ghosts。〃
I did not think it worth while to reply； feeling really unequal to this
sort of conversation； besides； we were nearing the house； when my task
would be ended。 Aunt Eliza met us at the door； and in the cross…fire of
adjectives that ensuedboth of them talking at once； as grown…up folk
have a habit of doingwe two slipped round to the back of the house； and
speedily put several solid acres between us and civilisation； for fear of
being ordered in to tea in the drawing…room。 By the time we returned；
our new importation had gone up to dress for dinner； so till the morrow at
least we were free of him。
Meanwhile the March wind； after dropping a while at sundown； had
been steadily increasing in volume； and although I fell asleep at my usual
hour； about midnight I was wakened by the stress and cry of it。 In the
bright moonlight； wind…swung branches tossed and swayed eerily across
the blinds； there was rumbling in chimneys； whistling in keyholes； and
everywhere a clamour and a call。 Sleep was out of the question； and；
sitting up in bed； I looked round。 Edward sat up too。 〃I was wondering
when you were going to wake；〃 he said。 〃It's no good trying to sleep
through this。 I vote we get up and do something。〃
〃I'm game；〃 I replied。 〃Let's play at being in a ship at sea〃 （the plaint
of the old house under the buffeting wind suggested this； naturally）； 〃and
we can be wrecked on an island； or left on a raft； whichever you choose；
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but I like an island best myself； because there's more things on it。〃
Edward on reflection negatived the idea。 〃It would make too much
noise；〃 he pointed out。 〃There's no fun playing at ships； unless you can
make a jolly good row。〃
The door creaked； and a small figure in white slipped cautiously in。
〃Thought I heard you talking；〃 said Charlotte。 〃We don't like it； we're
afraidSelina too。 She'll be here in a minute。 She's putting on her new
dressing…gown she's so proud of。〃 His arms round his knees； Edward
cogitated deeply until Selina appeared； barefooted； and looking slim and
tall in the new dressing…gown。 Then； 〃Look here；〃 he exclaimed； 〃now
we're all together； I vote we go and explore！〃
〃You're always wanting to explore；〃 I said。 〃What on earth is there to
explore for in this house？〃
〃Biscuits！〃 said the inspired Edward。
〃Hooray！ Come on！〃 chimed in Harold； sitting up suddenly。 He
had been awake all the time； but had been shamming asleep； lest he should
be fagged to do anything。
It was indeed a fact； as Edward had remembered； that our thoughtless
elders occasionally left the biscuits out； a prize for the night…walking
adventurer with nerves of steel。
Edward tumbled out of bed； and pulled a baggy old pair of
knickerbockers over his bare shanks。 Then he girt himself with a belt；
into which he thrust； on the one side a large wooden pistol； on the other an
old single…stick； and finally he donned a big slouch…hatonce an uncle's
that we used for playing Guy Fawkes and Charles…the…Second…up…a…tree in。
Whatever the audience； Edward； if possible； always dressed for his parts
with care and conscientiousness； while Harold and I； true Elizabethans；
cared little about the mounting of the piece； so long as the real dramatic
heart of it beat sound。
Our commander now enjoined on us a silence deep as the grave；
reminding us that Aunt Eliza usually slept with an open door； past which
we had to file。
〃But we'll take the short cut through the Blue Room；〃 said the wary
Selina。
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〃Of course；〃 said Edward； approvingly。 〃I forgot about that。 Now
then！ You lead the way！〃
The Blue Room had in prehistoric times been added to by taking in a
superfluous passage； and so not only had the advantage of two doors； but
enabled us to get to the head of the stairs without passing the chamber
wherein our dragon…aunt lay couched。 It was rarely occupied； except
when a casual uncle came down for the night。 We entered in noiseless
file； the room being plunged in darkness； except for a bright strip of
moonlight on the floor； across which we must pass for our exit。 On this
our leading lady chose to pause； seizing the opportunity to study the hang
of her new dressing…gown。 Greatly satisfied thereat； she proceeded； after
the feminine fashion； to peacock and to pose； pacing a minuet down the
moonlit patch with an imaginary partner。 This was too much for
Edward's histrionic instincts； and after a moment's pause he drew his
single…stick； and with flourishes meet for the occasion； strode onto the
stage。 A struggle ensued on approved lines； at the end of which Selina
was stabbed slowly and with unction； and her corpse borne from the
chamber by the ruthless cavalier。 The rest of us rushed after in a clump；
with capers and gesticulations of delight； the special charm of the
performance lying in the necessity for its being carried out with the
dumbest of dumb shows。
Once out on the dark landing； the noise of the storm without told us
that we had exaggerated the necessity for silence； so； grasping the tails of
each other's nightgowns even as Alpine climbers rope themselves together
in perilous places； we fared stoutly down the staircase…moraine； and across
the grim glacier of the hall； to where a faint glimmer from the half…open
door of the drawing…room beckoned to us like friendly hostel…lights。
Entering； we found that our thriftless seniors had left the sound red heart
of a fire； easily coaxed into a cheerful blaze； and biscuitsa plateful
smiled at us in an encouraging sort of way； together with the halves of a
lemon； already once squeezed but still suckable。 The biscuits were
righteously shared； the lemon segments passed from mouth to mouth； and
as we squatted round the fire； its genial warmth consoling our unclad
limbs； we realised that so many nocturnal perils had not been braved in
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vain。
〃It's a funny thing；〃 said Edward； as we chatted； 〃how； I hate this room
in the daytime。 It always means having your face washed； and your hair
brushed； and talking silly company talk。 But to…night it's really quite
jolly。 Looks different； somehow。〃
〃I never can make out I said； 〃what people come here to tea for。
They can have their own tea at home if they like；they're not poor
people；with jam and things； and drink out of their saucer； and suck their
fingers and enjoy thems
