jeremy-第1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！






Jeremy

by　Hugh　Walpole






TO　BRUCE　FROM　HIS　LOVING　UNCLE





CONTENTS

CHAPTER
　　　I　　THE　BIRTHDAY

　　II　　THE　FAMILY　DOG

　III　　CHRISTMAS　PANTOMIME

　　IV　　MISS　JONES

　　　V　　THE　SEA…CAPTAIN

　　VI　　FAMILY　PRIDE

　VII　　RELIGION

VIII　　TO　COW　FARM

　　IX　　THE　AWAKENING　OF　CHARLOTTE

　　　X　　MARY

　　XI　　THE　MERRY…GO…ROUND

　XII　　HAMLET　WAITS






〃It　is　due　to　him　to　say　that　he　was
an　obedient　boy　and　a　boy　whose　word
could　be　depended　on　。　。　。〃

Jackanapes






CHAPTER　I

THE　BIRTHDAY


I


About　thirty　years　ago　there　was　at　the　top　of　the　right…hand　side
of　Orange　Street；　in　Polchester；　a　large　stone　house。　I　say　〃was〃；
the　shell　of　it　is　still　there；　and　the　people　who　now　live　in　it
are　quite　unaware；　I　suppose；　that　anything　has　happened　to　the
inside　of　it；　except　that　they　are　certainly　assured　that　their
furniture　is　vastly　superior　to　the　furniture　of　their　predecessors。
They　have　a　gramophone；　a　pianola；　and　a　lift　to　bring　the　plates
from　the　kitchen　into　the　dining…room；　and　a　small　motor　garage　at
the　back　where　the　old　pump　used　to　be；　and　a　very　modern　rock
garden　where　once　was　the　pond　with　the　fountain　that　never　worked。
Let　them　cherish　their　satisfaction。　No　one　grudges　it　to　them。　The
Coles　were；　by　modern　standards；　old…fashioned　people；　and　the　Stone
House　was　an　old…fashioned　house。

Young　Jeremy　Cole　was　born　there　in　the　year　1884；　very　early　in　the
morning　of　December　8th。　He　was　still　there　very　early　in　the
morning　of　December　8th；　1892。　He　was　sitting　up　in　bed。　The　cuckoo
clock　had　just　struck　five；　and　he　was　aware　that　he　was；　at　this
very　moment；　for　the　first　time　in　his　life；　eight　years　old。　He　had
gone　to　bed　at　eight　o'clock　on　the　preceding　evening　with　the
choking　consciousness　that　he　would　awake　in　the　morning　a　different
creature。　Although　he　had　slept；　there　had　permeated　the　texture　of
his　dreams　that　same　choking　excitement；　and　now；　wide　awake；　as
though　he　had　asked　the　cuckoo　to　call　him　in　order　that　he　might
not　be　late　for　the　great　occasion；　he　stared　into　the　black
distance　of　his　bedroom　and　reflected；　with　a　beating　heart；　upon
the　great　event。　He　was　eight　years　old；　and　he　had　as　much　right
now　to　the　nursery　arm…chair　with　a　hole　in　it　as　Helen　had。

That　was　his　first　definite　realisation　of　approaching　triumph。
Throughout　the　whole　of　his　seventh　year　he　had　fought　with　Helen；
who　was　most　unjustly　a　year　older　than　he　and　persistently　proud　of
that　injustice；　as　to　his　right　to　use　the　wicker　arm…chair
whensoever　it　pleased　him。　So　destructive　of　the　general　peace　of
the　house　had　these　incessant　battles　been；　so　unavailing　the
suggestions　of　elderly　relations　that　gentlemen　always　yielded　to
ladies；　that　a　compromise　had　been　arrived　at。　When　Jeremy　was　eight
he　should　have　equal　rights　with　Helen。　Well　and　good。　Jeremy　had
yielded　to　that。　It　was　the　only　decent　chair　in　the　nursery。　Into
the　place　where　the　wicker；　yielding　to　rude　and　impulsive　pressure；
had　fallen　away；　one's　body　might　be　most　happily　fitted。　It　was　of
exactly　the　right　height；　it　made　the　handsomest　creaking　noises
when　one　rocked　in　itand；　in　any　case；　Helen　was　only　a　girl。

But　the　sense　of　his　triumph　had　not　yet　fully　descended　upon　him。
As　he　sat　up　in　bed；　yawning；　with　a　tickle　in　the　middle　of　his
back　and　his　throat　very　dry；　he　was　disappointingly　aware　that　he
was　still　the　same　Jeremy　of　yesterday。　He　did　not　know　what　it　was
exactly　that　he　had　expected；　but　he　did　not　feel　at　present　that
confident　proud　glory　for　which　he　had　been　prepared。　Perhaps　it　was
too　early。

He　turned　round；　curled　his　head　into　his　arm；　and　with　a　half…
muttered；　half…dreamt　statement　about　the　wicker　chair；　he　was　once
again　asleep。




II


He　awoke　to　the　customary　sound　of　the　bath　water　running　into　the
bath。　His　room　was　flooded　with　sunshine；　and　old　Jampot；　the　nurse
（her　name　was　Mrs。　Preston　and　her　shape　was　Jampot）；　was　saying　as
usual：　〃Now；　Master　Jeremy；　eight　o'clock；　no　lying　in　bedoutyou
getbathready。〃

He　stared　at　her；　blinking。

〃You　should　say　'Many　Happy　Returns　of　the　Day；　Master　Jeremy；'〃　he
remarked。　Then　suddenly；　with　a　leap；　he　was　out　of　bed；　had　crossed
the　floor；　pushed　back　the　nursery　door；　and　was　sitting　in　the
wicker　arm…chair；　his　naked　feet　kicking　a　triumphant　dance。

〃Helen！　Helen！〃　he　called。　〃I'm　in　the　chair。〃

No　sound。

〃I'm　eight；〃　he　shouted；　〃and　I'm　in　the　chair。〃

Mrs。　Preston；　breathless　and　exclaiming；　hurried　across　to　him。

〃Oh；　you　naughty　boy　。　。　。　death　of　cold　。　。　。　in　your　nightshirt。〃

〃I'm　eight；〃　he　said；　looking　at　her　scornfully；　〃and　I　can　sit　here
as　long　as　I　please。〃

Helen；　her　pigtails　flapping　on　either　shoulder；　her　nose　red；　as　it
always　was　early　in　the　morning；　appeared　at　the　opposite　end　of　the
nursery。

〃Nurse；　he　mustn't；　must　he？　Tell　him　not　to。　I　don't　care　how　old
you　are。　It's　my　chair。　Mother　said〃

〃No；　she　didn't。　Mother　said〃

〃Yes；　she　did。　Mother　said〃

〃Mother　said　that　when〃

〃Oh；　you　story。　You　know　that　Mother　said〃　Then　suddenly　a　new；
stiffening；　trusting　dignity　filled　him；　as　though　he　had　with　a
turn　of　the　head　discovered　himself　in　golden　armour。

He　was　above　this　vulgar　wrangling　now。　That　was　for　girls。　He　was
superior　to　them　all。　He　got　down　from　the　chair　and　stood；　his　head
up；　on　the　old　Turkey　rug　（red　with　yellow　cockatoos）　in　front　of
the　roaring　fire。

〃You　may　have　your　old　chair；〃　he　said　to　Helen。　〃I'm　eight　now；　and
I　don't　want　it　any　more　。　。　。　although　if　I　do　want　it　I　shall　have
it；〃　he　added。

He　was　a　small；　square　boy　with　a　pug…nosed　face。　His　hair　was　light
brown；　thin　and　stiff；　so　that　it　was　difficult　to　brush；　and
although　you　watered　it；　stood　up　in　unexpected　places　and　stared　at
you。　His　eyes　were　good；　dark　brown　and　large；　but　he　was　in　no　way
handsome；　his　neck；　his　nose　ridiculous。　His　mouth　was　too　large；
and　his　chin　stuck　out　like　a　hammer。

He　was；　plainly；　obstinate　and　possibly　sulky；　although　when　he
smiled　his　whole　face　was　lighted　with　humour。　Helen　was　the　only
beautiful　Cole　child；　and　she　was　abundantly　aware　of　that　fact。　The
Coles　had　never　been　a　good…looking　family。

He　stood　in　front　of　the　fireplace　now　as　he　had　seen　his　father　do；
his　short　legs　apart；　his　head　up；　and　his　hands　behind　his　back。

〃Now；　Master　Jeremy；〃　the　Jampot　continued；　〃you　may　be　eight　years
old；　but　it　isn't　a　reason　for　disobedience　the　very　first　minute；
and；　of　course；　your　bath　is　ready　and　you　catching　your　death　with
naked　feet；　which　you've　always　been　told　to　put　your　slippers　on
and　not　to　keep　the　bath　waiting；　when　there's　Miss　Helen　and　Miss
Mary；　as　you　very　well　know；　and　breakfast　coming　in　five　minutes；
which　there's　sausages　this　morning；　because　it's　your　birthday；　and
them　all　getting　cold〃

〃Sausages！〃

He　was　across　the　floor　in　a　moment；　had　thrown　off　his　nightshirt
and　was　in　his　bath。　Sausages！　He　was　translated　into　a　world　of
excitement　and　splendour。　They　had　sausages　so　seldom；　not　always
even　on　birthdays；　and　to…day；　on　a　cold　morning；　with　a　crackling
fire　and　marmalade；　perhapsand　then　all　the　presents。

Oh；　he　was　happy。　As　he　rubbed　his　back　with　the　towel　a　wonderful
glowing　Christian　charity　spread　from　his　head　to　his　toes　and
tingled　through　every　inch　of　him。　Helen　should　sit　in　the　chair
when　she　pleased；　Mary　should　be　allowed　to　dress　and　undress　the
large　woollen　dog；　known　as　〃Sulks；〃　his　own　especial　and　beloved
property；　so　often　as　she　wished；　Jampot　should　poke　the　twisted　end
of　the　towel　in　his　ears　and　brush　his　hair　with　the　hard　brushes；
and　he　would　not　say　a　word。　Aunt　Mary　should　kiss　him　（as；　of
course；　she　would　want　to　do）；　and　he　would　not　shiver；　he　would
（bravest　deed　of　all）　allow　Mary　to　read　〃Alice　in　Wonderland〃　in
her　sing…sing　voice　so　long　as　ever　she　wanted。　。　。　Sausages！
Sausages！

In　his　shirt　and　his　short　blue　trousers；　his　hair　on　end；　tugging
at　his　braces；　he　stood　in　the　doorway　and　shouted：

〃Helen；　there　are　sausagesbecause　it's　my　birthday。　Aren't　you
glad？？

And　even　when　the　only　response　to　his　joyous　invitation　was　Helen's
voice　crossly　admonishing　the　Jampot：　〃Oh；　you　do　pull　so；　you're
hurting！〃his　charity　was　not　checked。

Then　when　he　stood　clothed　and　of　a　cheerful　mind　once　more　in　front
of　the　fire　a　shyness　stole　over　him。　He　knew　that　the　moment　for
Presents　was　approaching；　he　knew　that　very　shortly　he　would　have　to
kiss　and　be　kissed　by　a　multitude　of　persons；　that　he　would　have　to
say　again　and　again；　〃Oh；　thank　you；　thank　you　so　much！〃　that　he
would　have　his　usual　consciousness　of　his　inability　to　thank　anybody
at　all　in　the　way　that　they　expected　to　be　thanked。　Helen　and　Mary
never　worried　about　such　things。　They　delighted　in　kissing　and
hugging　and　multitudes　of　words。　If　only　he　might　have　had　his
presents　by　himself　and　then　stolen　out　and　said　〃Thank　you〃　to　the
lot　of　them　and　have　done　with　it。

He　watched　the　breakfast…table　with　increasing　satisfactionthe
large　teapot　with　the　red　roses；　the　dark　blue　porridge　plates；　the
glass　jar　with　the　marmalade　a　rich　yellow　inside　it；　the　huge　loaf
with　the　soft　pieces　bursting　out　between　the　crusty　pieces；　the
solid　square　of　butter；　so　beautiful　a　colour　and　marked　with　a
large　cow　and　a　tree　on　the　top　（he　had　seen　once　in　the　kitchen　the
wooden　shape　with　which　the　cook　made　this　handsome　thing）。　There
were　also　his　own　silver　mug；　given　him　at　his　christening　by　Canon
Trenchard；　his　godfather；　and　his　silver　spoon；　given　him　on　the
same　occasion　by　Uncle　Samuel。

All　these　things　glittered　and　glowed　in　the　firelight；　and　a　kettle
was　singing　on　the　hob　and　Martha　the　canary　was　singing　in　her　cage
in　the　window。　（No　one　really　knew　whether　the　canary　were　a　lady　or
a　gentleman；　but　the　name　had　been　Martha　after　a　beloved　housemaid；
now　married　to　the　gardener；　and　the　sex　had　followed　the　name。）

There　were　also　all　the　other　familiar　nursery　things。　The　hole　in
the　Turkey　carpet　near　the　bookcase；　the　rocking…horse；　very　shiny
where　you　sit　and　very　Christmas…　tree…like　as　to　its　tail；　the
doll's　house；　now　deserted；　because　Helen　was　too　old　and　Mary　too
clever；　the　pictures　of　〃Church　on　Christmas　Morning〃　（everyone　with
their　mouths　very　wide　open；　singing　a　Christmas　hymn；　with　holly）；
〃Dignity　and　Impudence；〃　after　Landseer；　〃The　Shepherds　and　the
Angels；〃　and　〃The　Charge　of　the　Light　Brigade。〃　So　packed　was　the
nursery　with　history　for　Jeremy　that　it　would　have　taken　quite　a
week　to　relate　it　all。　There　was　the　spot　where　he　had　bitten　the
Jampot's　fingers；　for　which　deed　he　had　afterwards　been　slippered　by
his　father；　there　the　corner　where　they　stood　for　punishment　（he
knew　exactly　how　many　ships　with　sails；　how　many　ridges　of　waves；
and　how　many　setting　suns　there　were　on　that　especial　piece　of
corner　wallpaperthree　ships；　twelve　ridges；　two　and　a　half　suns）；
there　was　the　place　where　he　had　broken　the　ink　bottle　over　his
shoes　and　the　carpet；　there　by　the　window；　where　Mary　had　read　to
him　once　when　he　had　toothache；　and　he　had　not　known　whe