those extraordinary twins-第4章

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This　flurried　her；　but　she　made　a　swift　change　and　went　on　shaking。

〃Got　the　wrong　one　again；　ma；〃　said　the　boy。

〃Oh；　shut　up；　can't　you！〃　said　the　widow；　embarrassed　and　irritated。
〃Give　me　all　your　hands；　I　want　to　shake　them　all；　for　I　know　you　are
both　just　as　good　as　you　can　be。〃

It　was　a　victorious　thought；　a　master…stroke　of　diplomacy；　though　that
never　occurred　to　her　and　she　cared　nothing　for　diplomacy。　　She　shook　the
four　hands　in　turn　cordially；　and　went　back　to　her　place　in　a　state　of
high　and　fine　exultation　that　made　her　look　young　and　handsome。

〃Indeed　I　owe　everything　to　Luigi；〃　said　Angelo；　affectionately。
〃But　for　him　I　could　not　have　survived　our　boyhood　days；　when　we　were
friendless　and　poorah；　so　poor！　　We　lived　from　hand　to　mouth…lived　on
the　coarse　fare　of　unwilling　charity；　and　for　weeks　and　weeks　together
not　a　morsel　of　food　passed　my　lips；　for　its　character　revolted　me　and　I
could　not　eat　it。　　But　for　Luigi　I　should　have　died。　　He　ate　for　us
both。〃

〃How　noble！〃　sighed　Rowena。

〃Do　you　hear　that？〃　said　the　widow；　severely；　to　her　boys。　　〃Let　it　be　an
example　to　youI　mean　you；　Joe。〃

Joe　gave　his　head　a　barely　perceptible　disparaging　toss　and　said：　〃Et　for
both。　　It　ain't　anything　I'd　'a'　done　it。〃

〃Hush；　if　you　haven't　got　any　better　manners　than　that。　　You　don't　see
the　point　at　all。　　It　wasn't　good　food。〃

〃I　don't　careit　was　food；　and　I'd　'a'　et　it　if　it　was　rotten。〃

〃Shame！　　Such　language　！　　Can't　you　understand？　　They　were　starving…
actually　starvingand　he　ate　for　both；　and〃

〃Shucks！　　you　gimme　a　chance　and　I'll〃

〃There；　nowclose　your　head！　　and　don't　you　open　it　again　till　you're
asked。〃

　　　　　＇Angelo　goes　on　and　tells　how　his　parents　the　Count　and　Countess　had
　　　　　to　fly　from　Florence　for　political　reasons；　and　died　poor　in　Berlin
　　　　　bereft　of　their　great　property　by　confiscation；　and　how　he　and　Luigi
　　　　　had　to　travel　with　a　freak…show　during　two　years　and　suffer
　　　　　semi…starvation。＇

〃That　hateful　black…bread；　but　I　seldom　ate　anything　during　that　time；
that　was　poor　Luigi's　affair〃

〃I'll　never　Mister　him　again！〃　cried　the　widow；　with　strong　emotion；
〃he's　Luigi　to　me；　from　this　out！〃

〃Thank　you　a　thousand　times；　madam；　a　thousand　times！　though　in　truth　I
don't　deserve　it。〃

〃Ah；　Luigi　is　always　the　fortunate　one　when　honors　are　showering；〃　said
Angelo；　plaintively；　〃now　what　have　I　done；　Mrs。　　Cooper；　that　you　leave
me　out？　　Come；　you　must　strain　a　point　in　my　favor。〃

〃Call　you　Angelo？　　Why；　certainly　I　will；　what　are　you　thinking　of！　　In
the　case　of　twins；　why〃

〃But；　ma；　you're　breaking　up　the　storydo　let　him　go　on。〃

〃You　keep　still；　Rowena　Cooper；　and　he　can　go　on　all　the　better；　I
reckon。　　One　interruption　don't　hurt；　it's　two　that　makes　the　trouble。〃

〃But　you've　added　one；　now；　and　that　is　three。〃

〃Rowena！　　I　will　not　allow　you　to　talk　back　at　me　when　you　have　got
nothing　rational　to　say。〃




CHAPTER　III

ANGELO　IS　BLUE

＇After　breakfast　the　whole　village　crowded　in；　and　there　was　a　grand
reception　in　honor　of　the　twins；　and　at　the　close　of　it　the　gifted
〃freak〃　captured　everybody's　admiration　by　sitting　down　at　the　piano　and
knocking　out　a　classic　four…handed　piece　in　great　style。　　Then　the　judge
took　itor　themdriving　in　his　buggy　and　showed　off　his　village。＇

All　along　the　streets　the　people　crowded　the　windows　and　stared　at　the
amazing　twins。　　Troops　of　small　boys　flocked　after　the　buggy；　excited　and
yelling。　　At　first　the　dogs　showed　no　interest。　　They　thought　they　merely
saw　three　men　in　a　buggya　matter　of　no　consequence；　but　when　they　found
out　the　facts　of　the　case；　they　altered　their　opinion　pretty　radically；
and　joined　the　boys；　expressing　their　minds　as　they　came。　　Other　dogs　got
interested；　indeed；　all　the　dogs。　　It　was　a　spirited　sight　to　see　them
come　leaping　fences；　tearing　around　corners；　swarming　out　of　every
bystreet　and　alley。　　The　noise　they　made　was　something　beyond　belief
or　praise。　　They　did　not　seem　to　be　moved　by　malice　but　only　by
prejudice；　the　common　human　prejudice　against　lack　of　conformity。　　If　the
twins　turned　their　heads；　they　broke　and　fled　in　every　direction；　but
stopped　at　a　safe　distance　and　faced　about；　and　then　formed　and　came　on
again　as　soon　as　the　strangers　showed　them　their　back。　　Negroes　and
farmers'　wives　took　to　the　woods　when　the　buggy　came　upon　them　suddenly；
and　altogether　the　drive　was　pleasant　and　animated；　and　a　refreshment　all
around。

　　　　　＇It　was　a　long　and　lively　drive。　　Angelo　was　a　Methodist；　Luigi　was
　　　　　a　Free…thinker。　　The　judge　was　very　proud　of　his　Freethinkers'
　　　　　Society；　which　was　flourishing　along　in　a　most　prosperous　way　and
　　　　　already　had　two　membershimself　and　the　obscure　and　neglected
　　　　　Pudd'nhead　Wilson。　　It　was　to　meet　that　evening；　and　he　invited
　　　　　Luigi　to　join；　a　thing　which　Luigi　was　glad　to　do；　partly　because　it
　　　　　would　please　himself；　and　partly　because　it　would　gravel　Angelo。＇

They　had　now　arrived　at　the　widow's　gate；　and　the　excursion　was　ended。
The　twins　politely　expressed　their　obligations　for　the　pleasant　outing
which　had　been　afforded　them；　to　which　the　judge　bowed　his　thanks；
and　then　said　he　would　now　go　and　arrange　for　the　Free…thinkers'　meeting；
and　would　call　for　Count　Luigi　in　the　evening。

〃For　you　also；　dear　sir；〃　he　added　hastily；　turning　to　Angelo　and　bowing。
〃In　addressing　myself　particularly　to　your　brother；　I　was　not　meaning　to
leave　you　out。　　It　was　an　unintentional　rudeness；　I　assure　you；　and　due
wholly　to　accidentaccident　and　preoccupation。　　I　beg　you　to　forgive
me。〃

His　quick　eye　had　seen　the　sensitive　blood　mount　into　Angelo's　face；
betraying　the　wound　that　had　been　inflicted。　　The　sting　of　the　slight　had
gone　deep；　but　the　apology　was　so　prompt；　and　so　evidently　sincere；　that
the　hurt　was　almost　immediately　healed；　and　a　forgiving　smile　testified
to　the　kindly　judge　that　all　was　well　again。

Concealed　behind　Angelo's　modest　and　unassuming　exterior；　and　unsuspected
by　any　but　his　intimates；　was　a　lofty　pride；　a　pride　of　almost　abnormal
proportions；　indeed；　and　this　rendered　him　ever　the　prey　of　slights；　and
although　they　were　almost　always　imaginary　ones；　they　hurt　none　the　less
on　that　account。　　By　ill　fortune　judge　Driscoll　had　happened　to　touch　his
sorest　point；　i。e。；　his　conviction　that　his　brother's　presence　was
welcomer　everywhere　than　his　own；　that　he　was　often　invited；　out　of　mere
courtesy；　where　only　his　brother　was　wanted；　and　that　in　a　majority　of
cases　he　would　not　be　included　in　an　invitation　if　he　could　be　left　out
without　offense。　　A　sensitive　nature　like　this　is　necessarily　subject　to
moods；　moods　which　traverse　the　whole　gamut　of　feeling；　moods　which　know
all　the　climes　of　emotion；　from　the　sunny　heights　of　joy　to　the　black
abysses　of　despair。　　At　times；　in　his　seasons　of　deepest　depressions；
Angelo　almost　wished　that　he　and　his　brother　might　become　segregated　from
each　other　and　be　separate　individuals；　like　other　men。　　But　of　course　as
soon　as　his　mind　cleared　and　these　diseased　imaginings　passed　away；　he
shuddered　at　the　repulsive　thought；　and　earnestly　prayed　that　it　might
visit　him　no　more。　　To　be　separate；　and　as　other　men　are！　　How　awkward　it
would　seem；　how　unendurable。　　What　would　he　do　with　his　hands；　his　arms？
How　would　his　legs　feel？　　How　odd；　and　strange；　and　grotesque　every
action；　attitude；　movement；　gesture　would　be。　　To　sleep　by　himself；　eat
by　himself；　walk　by　himselfhow　lonely；　how　unspeakably　lonely！　　No；　no；
any　fate　but　that。　　In　every　way　and　from　every　point；　the　idea　was
revolting。

This　was　of　course　natural；　to　have　felt　otherwise　would　have　been
unnatural。　　He　had　known　no　life　but　a　combined　one；　he　had　been　familiar
with　it　from　his　birth；　he　was　not　able　to　conceive　of　any　other　as　being
agreeable；　or　even　bearable。　　To　him；　in　the　privacy　of　his　secret
thoughts；　all　other　men　were　monsters；　deformities：　and　during
three…fourths　of　his　life　their　aspect　had　filled　him　with　what　promised
to　be　an　unconquerable　aversion。　　But　at　eighteen　his　eye　began　to　take
note　of　female　beauty；　and　little　by　little；　undefined　longings　grew　up
in　his　heart；　under　whose　softening　influences　the　old　stubborn　aversion
gradually　diminished；　and　finally　disappeared。　　Men　were　still
monstrosities　to　him；　still　deformities；　and　in　his　sober　moments　he　had
no　desire　to　be　like　them；　but　their　strange　and　unsocial　and　uncanny
construction　was　no　longer　offensive　to　him。

This　had　been　a　hard　day　for　him；　physically　and　mentally。　　He　had　been
called　in　the　morning　before　he　had　quite　slept　off　the　effects　of　the
liquor　which　Luigi　had　drunk；　and　so；　for　the　first　half…hour　had　had　the
seedy　feeling；　and　languor；　the　brooding　depression；　the　cobwebby　mouth
and　druggy　taste　that　come　of　dissipation　and　are　so　ill　a　preparation
for　bodily　or　intellectual　activities；　the　long　violent　strain　of　the
reception　had　followed；　and　this　had　been　followed；　in　turn；　by　the
dreary　sight…seeing；　the　judge's　wearying　explanations　and　laudations　of
the　sights；　and　the　stupefying　clamor　of　the　dogs。　　As　a　congruous
conclusion；　a　fitting　end；　his　feelings　had　been　hurt；　a　slight　had　been
put　upon　him。　　He　would　have　been　glad　to　forego　dinner　and　betake
himself　to　rest　and　sleep；　but　he　held　his　peace　and　said　no　word；　for　he
knew　his　brother；　Luigi；　was　fresh；　unweary；　full　of　life；　spirit；
energy；　he　would　have　scoffed　at　the　idea　of　wasting　valuable　time　on　a
bed　or　a　sofa；　and　would　have　refused　permission。




CHAPTER　IV

SUPERNATURAL　CHRONOMETRY

Rowena　was　dining　out；　Joe　and　Harry　were　belated　at　play；　there　were　but
three　chairs　and　four　persons　that　noon　at　the　home　dinner…table
the　twins；　the　widow；　and　her　chum；　Aunt　Betsy　Hale。　　The　widow　soon
perceived　that　Angelo's　spirits　were　as　low　as　Luigi's　were　high；　and
also　that　he　had　a　jaded　look。　　Her　motherly　solicitude　was　aroused；　and
she　tried　to　get　him　interested　in　the　talk　and　win　him　to　a　happier
frame　of　mind；　but　the　cloud　of　sadness　remained　on　his　countenance。
Luigi　lent　his　help；　too。　　He　used　a　form　and　a　phrase　which　he　was
always　accustomed　to　employ　in　these　circumstances。　　He　gave　his　brother
an　affectionate　slap　on　the　shoulder　and　said；　encouragingly：

〃Cheer　up；　the　worst　is　yet　to　come！〃

But　this　did　no　good。　　It　never　did。　　If　anything；　it　made　the　matter
worse；　as　a　rule；　because　it　irritated　Angelo。　　This　made　it　a　favorite
with　Luigi。　　By　and　by　the　widow　said：

〃Angelo；　you　are　tired；　you've　overdone　yourself；　you　go　right　to　bed
after　dinner；　and　get　a　good　nap　and　a　rest；　then　you'll　be　all　right。〃

〃Indeed；　I　would　give　anything　if　I　could　do　that；　madam。〃

〃And　what's　to　hender；　I'd　like　to　know？　　Land；　the　room's　yours　to　do
what　you　please　with！　　The　idea　that　you　can't　do　what　you　like　with　your
own！〃

〃But；　you　see；　there's　one　prime　essentialan　essential　of　the　very
first　importance　which　isn't　my　own。〃

〃What　is　that？〃

〃My　body。〃

The　old　ladies　looked　puzzled；　and　Aunt　Betsy　Hale　said：

〃Why　bless　your　heart；　how　is　that？〃

〃It's　my　brother's。〃

〃Your　brother's！　　I　don't　quite　understand。　　I　supposed　it　belonged　to
both　of　you。〃

〃So