the professor(教授)-第12章
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manifestation of feeling appeared at the same moment on
Hunsden’s lips。
“Oh； I see！” said he； looking into my eyes； and it was evident he
did see right down into my heart。 Having sat a minute or two with
his chin resting on his hand； diligently occupied in the continued
perusal of my countenance； he went on：…
“Seriously； have you then nothing to expect from the
Seacombes？”
“Yes； rejection and repulsion。 Why do you ask me twice？ How
can hands stained with the ink of a counting…house； soiled with the
grease of a wool…warehouse； ever again be permitted to come into
contact with aristocratic palms？”
“There would be a difficulty； no doubt； still you are such a
complete Seacombe in appearance； feature； language； almost
manner； I wonder they should disown you。”
“They have disowned me； so talk no more about it。”
“Do you regret it； William？”
“No。”
“Why not； lad？”
“Because they are not people with whom I could ever have had
any sympathy。”
“I say you are one of them。”
“That merely proves that you know nothing at all about it； I am
my mother’s son； but not my uncles’ nephew。”
“Still—one of your uncles is a lord； though rather an obscure
and not a very wealthy one； and the other a right honourable： you
should consider worldly interest。”
“Nonsense； Mr。 Hunsden。 You know or may know that even
had I desired to be submissive to my uncles； I could not have
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stooped with a good enough grace ever to have won their favour。 I
should have sacrificed my own comfort and not have gained their
patronage in return。”
“Very likely—so you calculated your wisest plan was to follow
your own devices at once？”
“Exactly。 I must follow my own devices—I must； till the day of
my death； because I can neither comprehend； adopt； nor work out
those of other people。”
Hunsden yawned。 “Well；” said he； “in all this； I see but one
thing clearly…that is； that the whole affair is no business of mine。
“He stretched himself and again yawned。 “I wonder what time it
is；” he went on： “I have an appointment for seven o’clock。”
“Three quarters past six by my watch。”
“Well； then I’ll go。” He got up。 “You’ll not meddle with trade
again？” said he； leaning his elbow on the mantelpiece。
“No； I think not。”
“You would be a fool if you did。 Probably； after all； you’ll think
better of your uncles’ proposal and go into the Church。”
“A singular regeneration must take place in my whole inner
and outer man before I do that。 A good clergyman is one of the
best of men。”
“Indeed！ Do you think so？” interrupted Hunsden； scoffingly。
“I do； and no mistake。 But I have not the peculiar points which
go to make a good clergyman； and rather than adopt a profession
for which I have no vocation； I would endure extremities of
hardship from poverty。”
“You’re a mighty difficult customer to suit。 You won’t be a
tradesman or a parson； you can’t be a lawyer； or a doctor； or a
gentleman； because you’ve no money。 I’d recommend you to
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travel。”
“What！ without money？”
“You must travel in search of money； man。 You can speak
French—with a vile English accent； no doubt—still； you can speak
it。 Go on to the Continent； and see what will turn up for you
there。”
“God knows I should like to go！” exclaimed I with involuntary
ardour。
“Go： what the deuce hinders you？ You may get to Brussels； for
instance； for five or six pounds； if you know how to manage with
economy。”
“Necessity would teach me if I didn’t。”
“Go； then； and let your wits make a way for you when you get
there。 I know Brussels almost as well as I know X—； and I am sure
it would suit such a one as you better than London。”
“But occupation； Mr。 Hunsden！ I must go where occupation is
to be had； and how could I get recommendation； or introduction；
or employment at Brussels？”
“There speaks the organ of caution。 You hate to advance a step
before you know every inch of the way。 You haven’t a sheet of
paper and a pen…and…ink？”
“I hope so；” and I produced writing materials with alacrity； for I
guessed what he was going to do。 He sat down； wrote a few lines；
folded； sealed； and addressed a letter； and held it out to me。
“There； Prudence； there’s a pioneer to hew down the first
rough difficulties of your path。 I know well enough； lad； you are
not one of those who will run their neck into a noose without
seeing how they are to get it out again； and you’re right there。 A
reckless man is my aversion； and nothing should ever persuade
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me to meddle with the concerns of such a one。 Those who are
reckless for themselves are generally ten times more so for their
friends。”
“This is a letter of introduction； I suppose？” said I； taking the
epistle。
“Yes。 With that in your pocket you will run no risk of finding
yourself in a state of absolute destitution； which； I know； you will
regard as a degradation—so should I； for that matter。 The person
to whom you will present it generally has two or three respectable
places depending upon his recommendation。”
“That will just suit me；” said I。
“Well； and where’s your gratitude？” demanded Mr。 Hunsden；
“don’t you know how to say ‘Thank you？’”
“I’ve fifteen pounds and a watch； which my godmother； whom I
never saw； gave me eighteen years ago；” was my rather irrelevant
answer； and I further avowed myself a happy man； and professed
that I did not envy any being in Christendom。
“But your gratitude？”
“I shall be off presently； Mr。 Hunsden—to…morrow； if all be
well： I’ll not stay a day longer in X— than I’m obliged。”
“Very good—but it will be decent to make due acknowledgment
for the assistance you have received； be quick！ It is just going to
strike seven： I’m waiting to be thanked。”
“Just stand out of the way； will you； Mr。 Hunsden： I want a key
there is on the corner of the mantelpiece。 I’ll pack my
portmanteau before I go to bed “
The house clock struck seven。
“The lad is a heathen；” said Hunsden； and taking his hat from a
sideboard； he left the room； laughing to himself。 I had half an
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inclination to follow him： I really intended to leave X— the next
morning； and should certainly not have another opportunity of
bidding him good…bye。 The front door banged to。
“Let him go；” said I； “we shall meet again some day。”
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Chapter VII
eader； perhaps you were never in Belgium？ Haply you
Rdon’t know the physiognomy of the country？ You have
not its lineaments defined upon your memory； as I have
them on mine？
Three—nay four—pictures line the four…walled cell where are
stored for me the records of the past。 First； Eton。 All in that
picture is in far perspective； receding； diminutive； but freshly
coloured； green； dewy； with a spring sky； piled with glittering yet
showery clouds； for my childhood was not all sunshine—it had its
overcast； its cold； its stormy hours。 Second； X—； huge； dingy； the
canvas cracked and smoked； a yellow sky； sooty clouds； no sun； no
azure； the verdure of the suburbs blighted and sullied—a very
dreary scene。
Third； Belgium； and I will pause before this landscape。 As to
the fourth； a curtain covers it； which I may hereafter withdraw； or
may not； as suits my convenience and capacity。 At any rate； for the
present it must hang undisturbed。 Belgium！ name unromantic and
unpoetic； yet name that whenever uttered has in my ear a sound；
in my heart an echo； such as no other assemblage of syllables；
however sweet or classic； can produce。 Belgium！ I repeat the
word； now as I sit alone near midnight。 It stirs my world of the
past like a summons to resurrection； the graves unclose； the dead
are raised； thoughts； feelings； memories that slept； are seen by me
ascending from the clods—haloed most of them—but while I gaze
on their vapoury forms； and strive to ascertain definitely their
outline； the sound which wakened them dies； and they sink； each
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and all； like a light wreath of mist； absorbed in the mould； recalled
to urns； resealed in monuments。 Farewell； luminous phantoms！
This is Belgium； reader。 Look！ don’t call the picture a flat or a
dull one—it was neither flat nor dull to me when I first beheld it。
When I left Ostend on a mild February morning； and found myself
on the road to Brussels； nothing could look vapid to me。 My sense
of enjoyment possessed an edge whetted to the finest； untouched；
keen； exquisite。 I was young； I had good health；
