the professor(教授)-第75章
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sky changes at the approach of sunrise： first it seemed as if her
forehead cleared； then her eyes glittered； her features relaxed； and
became quite mobile； her subdued complexion grew warm and
transparent； to me； she now looked pretty； before； she had only
looked ladylike。
She had many things to say to the Englishman just fresh from
his island…country； and she urged him with an enthusiasm of
curiosity； which ere long thawed Hunsden’s reserve as fire thaws a
congealed viper。 I use this not very flattering comparison because
he vividly reminded me of a snake waking from torpor； as he
erected his tall form； reared his head； before a little declined； and
putting back his hair from his broad Saxon forehead； showed
unshaded the gleam of almost savage satire which his
interlocutor’s tone of eagerness and look of ardour had sufficed at
once to kindle in his soul and elicit from his eyes： he was himself；
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as Frances was herself； and in none but his own language would
he now address her。
“You understand English？” was the prefatory question。
“A little。”
“Well； then； you shall have plenty of it； and first； I see you’ve
not much more sense than some others of my acquaintance”
（indicating me with his thumb）； “or else you’d never turn rabid
about that dirty little country called England； for rabid； I see you
are； I read Anglophobia in your looks； and hear it in your words。
Why； mademoiselle； is it possible that anybody with a grain of
rationality should feel enthusiasm about a mere name； and that
name England？ I thought you were a lady…abbess five minutes
ago； and respected you accordingly； and now I see you are a sort of
Swiss sibyl； with high Tory and high Church principles！”
“England is your country？” asked Frances。
“Yes。”
“And you don’t like it？”
“I’d be sorry to like it！ A little corrupt； venal； lord…and…king…
cursed nation； full or mucky pride （as they say in —…shire）； and
helpless pauperism； rotten with abuses； worm…eaten with
prejudices！”
“You might say so of almost every state； there are abuses and
prejudices everywhere； and I thought fewer in England than in
other countries。”
“Come to England and see。 Come to Birmingham and
Manchester； come to St。 Giles’ in London； and get a practical
notion of how our system works。 Examine the footprints of our
august aristocracy； see how they walk in blood； crushing hearts as
they go。 Just put your head in at English cottage doors； get a
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glimpse of Famine crouched torpid on black hearthstones； of
Disease lying bare on beds without coverlets； of Infamy wantoning
viciously with Ignorance； though indeed Luxury is her favourite
paramour； and princely halls are dearer to her than thatched
hovels—”
“I was not thinking of the wretchedness and vice in England； I
was thinking of the good side—of what is elevated in your
character as a nation。”
“There is no good side—none at least of which you can have
any knowledge； for you cannot appreciate the efforts of industry；
the achievements of enterprise； or the discoveries of science：
narrowness of education and obscurity of position quite
incapacitate you from understanding these points； and as to
historical and poetical associations； I will not insult you；
mademoiselle； by supposing that you alluded to such humbug。”
“But I did partly。”
Hunsden laughed—his laugh of unmitigated scorn。
“I did； Mr。 Hunsden。 Are you of the number of those to whom
such associations give no pleasure？”
“Mademoiselle； what is an association？ I never saw one。 What is
its length； breadth； weight； value—ay； value？ What price will it
bring in the market？”
“Your portrait； to any one who loved you； would； for the sake of
association； be without price。”
That inscrutable Hunsden heard this remark and felt it rather
acutely； too； somewhere； for he coloured—a thing not unusual
with him； when hit unawares on a tender point。 A sort of trouble
momentarily darkened his eye； and I believe he filled up the
transient pause succeeding his antagonist’s home…thrust； by a wish
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that some one did love him as he would like to be loved —some
one whose love he could unreservedly return。
The lady pursued her temporary advantage。
“If your world is a world without associations； Mr。 Hunsden； I
no longer wonder that you hate England so。 I don’t clearly know
what Paradise is； and what angels are； yet taking it to be the most
glorious region I can conceive； and angels the most elevated
existences—if one of them—if Abdiel the Faithful himself” （she
was thinking of Milton） “were suddenly stripped of the faculty of
association； I think he would soon rush forth from ‘the ever…during
gates；’ leave heaven； and seek what he had lost in hell。 Yes； in the
very hell from which he turned ‘with retorted scorn。’”
Frances’ tone in saying this was as marked as her language； and
it was when the word “hell” twanged off from her lips； with a
somewhat startling emphasis； that Hunsden deigned to bestow
one slight glance of admiration。 He liked something strong；
whether in man or woman； he liked whatever dared to clear
conventional limits。 He had never before heard a lady say “hell”
with that uncompromising sort of accent； and the sound pleased
him from a lady’s lips； he would fain have had Frances to strike
the string again； but it was not in her way。 The display of eccentric
vigour never gave her pleasure； and it only sounded in her voice or
flashed in her countenance when extraordinary circumstances —
and those generally painful—forced it out of the depths where it
burned latent。 To me； once or twice； she had in intimate
conversation； uttered venturous thoughts in nervous language；
but when the hour of such manifestation was past； I could not
recall it； it came of itself and of itself departed。 Hunsden’s
excitations she put by soon with a smile； and recurring to the
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theme of d
