tales from two hemispheres[1].(两个半球的故事)-第17章
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I
RALPH GRIM was born a gentleman。 He had the misfortune of
coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have
been expected。 Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve
anniversaries of their wedding…day； and had given up all hopes of ever
having a son and heir； when this late…comer startled them by his
unexpected appearance。 The only previous addition to the family had
been a daughter； and she was then ten summers old。
Ralph was a very feeble child； and could only with great difficulty be
persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to
existence。 He was rubbed with whisky； and wrapped in cotton； and given
mare's milk to drink； and God knows what not； and the Colonel swore a
round oath of paternal delight when at last the infant stopped gasping in
that distressing way and began to breathe like other human beings。 The
mother； who； in spite of her anxiety for the child's life； had found time to
plot for him a career of future magnificence； now suddenly set him apart
for literature； because that was the easiest road to fame； and disposed of
him in marriage to one of the most distinguished families of the land。
She cautiously suggested this to her husband when he came to take his
seat at her bedside； but to her utter astonishment she found that he had
been indulging a similar train of thought； and had already destined the
infant prodigy for the army。 She； however； could not give up her
predilection for literature； and the Colonel； who could not bear to be
contradicted in his own house； as he used to say； was getting every minute
louder and more flushed； when； happily； the doctor's arrival interrupted the
dispute。
As Ralph grew up from infancy to childhood； he began to give decided
promise of future distinction。 He was fond of sitting down in a corner
and sucking his thumb； which his mother interpreted as the sign of that
brooding disposition peculiar to poets and men of lofty genius。 At the
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age of five； he had become sole master in the house。 He slapped his
sister Hilda in the face； or pulled her hair； when she hesitated to obey him；
tyrannized over his nurse； and sternly refused to go to bed in spite of his
mother's entreaties。 On such occasions； the Colonel would hide his face
behind his newspaper； and chuckle with delight； it was evident that nature
had intended his son for a great military commander。 As soon as Ralph
himself was old enough to have any thoughts about his future destiny； he
made up his mind that he would like to be a pirate。 A few months later；
having contracted an immoderate taste for candy； he contented himself
with the comparatively humble position of a baker； but when he had read
〃Robinson Crusoe；〃 he manifested a strong desire to go to sea in the hope
of being wrecked on some desolate island。 The parents spent long
evenings gravely discussing these indications of uncommon genius； and
each interpreted them in his or her own way。
〃He is not like any other child I ever knew；〃 said the mother。
〃To be sure；〃 responded the father； earnestly。 〃He is a most
extraordinary child。 I was a very remarkable child too； even if I do say it
myself； but； as far as I remember； I never aspired to being wrecked on an
uninhabited is land。〃
The Colonel probably spoke the truth； but he forgot to take into
account that he had never read 〃Robinson Crusoe。〃
Of Ralph's school…days there is but little to report； for； to tell the truth；
he did not fancy going to school； as the discipline annoyed him。 The day
after his having entered the gymnasium； which was to prepare him for the
Military Academy； the principal saw him waiting at the gate after his class
had been dismissed。 He approached him； and asked why he did not go
home with the rest。
〃I am waiting for the servant to carry my books；〃 was the boy's
answer。
〃Give me your books；〃 said the teacher。
Ralph reluctantly obeyed。 That day the Colonel was not a little
surprised to see his son marching up the street； and every now and then
glancing behind him with a look of discomfort at the principal； who was
following quietly in his train； carrying a parcel of school…books。 Colonel
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
Grim and his wife； divining the teacher's intention； agreed that it was a
great outrage； but they did not mention the matter to Ralph。 Henceforth；
however； the boy refused to be accompanied by his servant。 A week later
he was impudent to the teacher of gymnastics； who whipped him in return。
The Colonel's rage knew no bounds； he rode in great haste to the
gymnasium； reviled the teacher for presuming to chastise HIS son； and
committed the boy to the care of a private tutor。
At the age of sixteen； Ralph went to the capital with the intention of
entering the Military Academy。 He was a tall； handsome youth； slender
of stature； and carried himself as erect as a candle。 He had a light； clear
complexion of almost feminine delicacy； blonde； curly hair； which he
always kept carefully brushed； a low forehead； and a straight； finely
modeled nose。 There was an expression of extreme sensitiveness about
the nostrils； and a look of indolence in the dark…blue eyes。 But the
ensemble of his features was pleasing； his dress irreproachable； and his
manners bore no trace of the awkward self…consciousness peculiar to his
age。 Immediately on his arrival in the capital he hired a suite of rooms in
the aristocratic part of the city； and furnished them rather expensively； but
in excellent taste。 From a bosom friend； whom he met by accident in the
restaurant's pavilion in the park； he learned that a pair of antlers； a stuffed
eagle； or falcon； and a couple of swords； were indispensable to a well…
appointed apartment。 He accordingly bought these articles at a curiosity…
shop。 During the first weeks of his residence in the city he made some
feeble efforts to perfect himself in mathematics； in which he suspected he
was somewhat deficient。 But when the same officious friend laughed at
him； and called him 〃green；〃 he determined to trust to fortune； and
henceforth devoted himself the more assiduously to the French ballet；
where he had already made some interesting acquaintances。
The time for the examination came； the French ballet did not prove a
good preparation； Ralph failed。 It quite shook him for the time； and he
felt humiliated。 He had not the courage to tell his father； so he lingered
on from day to day； sat vacantly gazing out of his window； and tried vainly
to interest himself in the busy bustle down on the street。 It provoked him
that everybody else should be so light… hearted； when he was； or at least
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
fancied himself； in trouble。 The parlor grew intolerable； he sought refuge
in his bedroom。 There he sat one evening （it was the third day after the
examination）； and stared out upon the gray stone walls which on all sides
enclosed the narrow court…yard。 The round stupid face of the moon stood
tranquilly dozing like a great Limburger cheese suspended under the sky。
Ralph； at least； could think of a no more fitting simile。 But the
bright…eyed young girl in the window hard by sent a longing look up to the
same moon； and thought of her distant home on the fjords； where the
glaciers stood like hoary giants； and caught the yellow moonbeams on
their glittering shields of snow。 She had been reading 〃Ivanhoe〃 all the
afternoon； until the twilight had overtaken her quite unaware； and now she
suddenly remembered that she had forgotten to write her German exercise。
She lifted her face and saw a pair of sad； vacant eyes； gazing at her from
the next window in the angle of the court。 She was a little startled at first；
but in the next moment she thought of her German exercise and took heart。
〃Do you know German？〃 she said； then immediately repented that she
had said it。
〃I do；〃 was the answer。
She took up her apron and began to twist it with an air of
embarrassment。
〃I didn't mean anything；〃 she whispered； at last。 〃I only wanted to
know。〃
〃You are very kind。〃
That answer roused her； he was evidently making sport of her。
〃Well； then； if you do； you may write my exercise for me。 I have
marked the place in the book。〃
And she flung her book over to his window； and he caught it on the
edge of the sill； just as it was falling。
〃You are a very strange girl；〃 he remarked； turning over the leaves of
the book； although it was too dark to read。 〃How old are you？〃
〃I shall be fourteen six weeks before Christmas；〃 answered she；
frankly。
〃Then I excuse you。〃
〃No； indeed；〃 cried she； vehemently。 〃You needn't excuse me at all。
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If you don't want to write my exercise； you may send the book back again。
I am very sorry I spoke to you； and I shall never do it again。〃
〃But you will not get the book back again without the exercise；〃
replied he； quietly。 〃Good…night。〃
The girl stood long looking after him
