the professor(教授)-第7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！
Mrs。 Lupton’s broad face might well wear a smile of complacency
as she contemplated the heir of Hunsden Wood occupied in paying
assiduous court to her darling Sarah Martha。 I； however； whose
observations being less anxious； were likely to be more accurate；
soon saw that the grounds for maternal self…congratulation were
slight indeed； the gentleman appeared to me much more desirous
of making； than susceptible of receiving an impression。 I know not
what it was in Mr。 Hunsden that； as I watched him （I had nothing
better to do）； suggested to me； every now and then； the idea of a
foreigner。 In form and features he might be pronounced English；
though even there one caught a dash of something Gallic； but he
had no English shyness： he had learnt somewhere； somehow； the
art of setting himself quite at his ease； and of allowing no insular
timidity to intervene as a barrier between him and his
convenience or pleasure。 Refinement he did not affect； yet vulgar
he could not be called； he was not odd—no quiz—yet he
resembled no one else I had ever seen before； his general bearing
Charlotte Bronte ElecBook Classics
… Page 35…
The Professor 35
intimated complete； sovereign satisfaction with himself； yet； at
times； an indescribable shade passed like an eclipse over his
countenance； and seemed to me like the sign of a sudden and
strong inward doubt of himself； his words and actions…an energetic
discontent at his life or his social position； his future prospects or
his mental attainments—I know not which； perhaps after all it
might only be a bilious caprice。
Charlotte Bronte ElecBook Classics
… Page 36…
The Professor 36
Chapter IV
o man likes to acknowledge that he has made a mistake
Nin the choice of his profession； and every man； worthy of
the name； will row long against wind and tide before he
allows himself to cry out； “I am baffled！” and submits to be floated
passively back to land。 From the first week of my residence in X—
I felt my occupation irksome。 The thing itself—the work of copying
and translating business…letters—was a dry and tedious task
enough； but had that been all； I should long have borne with the
nuisance； I am not of an impatient nature； and influenced by the
double desire of getting my living and justifying to myself and
others the resolution I had taken to become a tradesman； I should
have endured in silence the rust and cramp of my best faculties； I
should not have whispered； even inwardly； that I longed for
liberty； I should have pent in every sigh by which my heart might
have ventured to intimate its distress under the closeness； smoke；
monotony and joyless tumult of Bigben Close； and its panting
desire for freer and fresher scenes； I should have set up the image
of Duty； the fetish of Perseverance； in my small bedroom at Mrs。
King’s lodgings； and they two should have been my household
gods； from which my darling； my cherished…in…secret； Imagination；
the tender and the mighty； should never； either by softness or
strength； have severed me。 But this was not all； the antipathy
which had sprung up between myself and my employer striking
deeper root and spreading denser shade daily； excluded me from
every glimpse of the sunshine of life； and I began to feel like a
plant growing in humid darkness out of the slimy walls of a well。
Charlotte Bronte ElecBook Classics
… Page 37…
The Professor 37
Antipathy is the only word which can express the feeling
Edward Crimsworth had for me—a feeling； in a great measure；
involuntary； and which was liable to be excited by every； the most
trifling movement； look； or word of mine。 My southern accent
annoyed him； the degree of education evinced in my language
irritated him； my punctuality； industry； and accuracy； fixed his
dislike； and gave it the high flavour and poignant relish of envy； he
feared that I too should one day make a successful tradesman。 Had
I been in anything inferior to him； he would not have hated me so
thoroughly； but I knew all that he knew； and； what was worse； he
suspected that I kept the padlock of silence on mental wealth in
which he was no sharer。 If he could have once placed me in a
ridiculous or mortifying position； he would have forgiven me
much； but I was guarded by three faculties—Caution； Tact；
Observation； and prowling and prying as was Edward’s malignity；
it could never baffle the lynx…eyes of these； my natural sentinels。
Day by day did his malice watch my tact； hoping it would sleep；
and prepared to steal snake…like on its slumber； but tact； if it be
genuine； never sleeps。
I had received my first quarter’s wages； and was returning to
my lodgings； possessed heart and soul with the pleasant feeling
that the master who had paid me grudged every penny of that
hard…earned pittance—（I had long ceased to regard Mr。
Crimsworth as my brother—he was a hard； grinding master； he
wished to be an inexorable tyrant： that was all）。 Thoughts； not
varied but strong； occupied my mind； two voices spoke within me；
again and again they uttered the same monotonous phrases。 One
said： “William； your life is intolerable。” The other： “What can you
do to alter it？” I walked fast； for it was a cold； frosty night in
Charlotte Bronte ElecBook Classics
… Page 38…
The Professor 38
January； as I approached my lodgings； I turned from a general
view of my affairs to the particular speculation as to whether my
fire would be out； looking towards the window of my sitting…room；
I saw no cheering red gleam。
“That slut of a servant has neglected it as usual；” said I； “and I
shall see nothing but pale ashes if I go in； it is a fine starlight
night—I will walk a little farther。”
It was a fine night； and the streets were dry and even clean for
X—； there was a crescent curve of moonlight to be seen by the
parish church tower； and hundreds of stars shone keenly bright in
all quarters of the sky。
Unconsciously I steered my course towards the country； I had
got into Grove…street； and began to feel the pleasure of seeing dim
trees at the extremity； round a suburban house； when a person
leaning over the iron gate of one of the small gardens which front
the neat dwelling…houses in this street； addressed me as I was
hurrying with quick stride past。
“What the deuce is the hurry？ Just so must Lot have left
Sodom； when he expected fire to pour down upon it； out of
burning brass clouds。”
I stopped short； and looked towards the speaker。 I smelt the
fragrance； and saw the red spark of a cigar； the dusk outline of a
man； too； bent towards me over the wicket。
“You see I am meditating in the field at eventide；” continued
this shade。 “God knows it’s cool work！ especially as instead of
Rebecca on a camel’s hump； with bracelets on her arms and a ring
in her nose； Fate sends me only a counting…house clerk； in a grey
tweed wrapper。” The voice was familiar to me—its second
utterance enabled me to seize the speaker’s identity。
Charlotte Bronte ElecBook Classics
… Page 39…
The Professor 39
“Mr。 Hunsden！ good evening。”
“Good evening； indeed！ yes； but you would have passed me
without recognition if I had not been so civil as to speak first。”
“I did not know you。”
“A famous excuse！ You ought to have known me； I knew you；
though you were going ahead like a steam…engine。 Are the police
after you？”
“It wouldn’t be worth their while； I’m not of consequence
enough to attract them。
“Alas； poor shepherd！ Alack and welladay！ What a theme for
regret； and how down in the mouth you must be； judging from the
sound of your voice！ But since you’re not running from the police；
from whom are you running？ the devil？”
“On the contrary； I am going post to him。”
“That is well—you’re just in luck： this is Tuesday evening； there
are scores of market gigs and carts returning to Dinneford to…
night； and he； or some of his； have a seat in all regularly； so； if
you’ll step in and sit half…an…hour in my bachelor’s parlour； you
may catch him as he passes without much trouble。 I think though
you’d better let him alone to…night； he’ll have so many customers
to serve； Tuesday is his busy day in X— and Dinneford； come in at
all events。”
He swung the wicket open as he spoke。
“Do you really wish me to go in？” I asked。
“As you please—I’m alone； your company for an hour or two
would be agreeable to me； but； if you don’t choose to favour me so
far； I’ll not press the point。 I hate to bore any one。”
It suited me to accept the invitation as it suited Hunsden to give
it。 I passed through the gate； and followed him to the front door；
Charlotte Bronte ElecBook Classics
… Page 40…
The Professor
