half a life-time ago-第5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！
his neck。
〃Which on us do you like best？〃 said he； wistfully； after a little
pause； putting her arm away； so that he might look in her face； and
see if she spoke truth。
She went very red。
〃You should not ask such questions。 They are not fit for you to ask；
nor for me to answer。〃
〃But mother bade you love me！〃 said he； plaintively。
〃And so I do。 And so I ever will do。 Lover nor husband shall come
betwixt thee and me； ladne'er a one of them。 That I promise thee
（as I promised mother before）； in the sight of God and with her
hearkening now； if ever she can hearken to earthly word again。 Only
I cannot abide to have thee fretting； just because my heart is large
enough for two。〃
〃And thou'lt love me always？〃
〃Always； and ever。 And the morethe more thou'lt love Michael；〃
said she； dropping her voice。
〃I'll try；〃 said the boy； sighing； for he remembered many a harsh
word and blow of which his sister knew nothing。 She would have risen
up to go away； but he held her tight； for here and now she was all
his own； and he did not know when such a time might come again。 So
the two sat crouched up and silent； till they heard the horn blowing
at the field…gate； which was the summons home to any wanderers
belonging to the farm； and at this hour of the evening； signified
that supper was ready。 Then the two went in。
CHAPTER II。
Susan and Michael were to be married in April。 He had already gone
to take possession of his new farm； three or four miles away from Yew
Nookbut that is neighbouring； according to the acceptation of the
word in that thinly…populated district；when William Dixon fell ill。
He came home one evening； complaining of head…ache and pains in his
limbs； but seemed to loathe the posset which Susan prepared for him；
the treacle…posset which was the homely country remedy against an
incipient cold。 He took to his bed with a sensation of exceeding
weariness； and an odd； unusual looking…back to the days of his youth；
when he was a lad living with his parents； in this very house。
The next morning he had forgotten all his life since then； and did
not know his own children； crying； like a newly…weaned baby； for his
mother to come and soothe away his terrible pain。 The doctor from
Coniston said it was the typhus…fever； and warned Susan of its
infectious character； and shook his head over his patient。 There
were no near friends to come and share her anxiety； only good； kind
old Peggy； who was faithfulness itself； and one or two labourers'
wives； who would fain have helped her； had not their hands been tied
by their responsibility to their own families。 But； somehow； Susan
neither feared nor flagged。 As for fear； indeed； she had no time to
give way to it； for every energy of both body and mind was required。
Besides； the young have had too little experience of the danger of
infection to dread it much。 She did indeed wish； from time to time；
that Michael had been at home to have taken Willie over to his
father's at High Beck； but then； again； the lad was docile and useful
to her； and his fecklessness in many things might make him harshly
treated by strangers； so； perhaps； it was as well that Michael was
away at Appleby fair； or even beyond thatgone into Yorkshire after
horses。
Her father grew worse； and the doctor insisted on sending over a
nurse from Coniston。 Not a professed nurseConiston could not have
supported such a one； but a widow who was ready to go where the
doctor sent her for the sake of the payment。 When she came； Susan
suddenly gave way； she was felled by the fever herself； and lay
unconscious for long weeks。 Her consciousness returned to her one
spring afternoon； early spring： April；her wedding…month。 There
was a little fire burning in the small corner…grate； and the
flickering of the blaze was enough for her to notice in her weak
state。 She felt that there was some one sitting on the window…side
of her bed； behind the curtain； but she did not care to know who it
was； it was even too great a trouble for her languid mind to consider
who it was likely to be。 She would rather shut her eyes； and melt
off again into the gentle luxury of sleep。 The next time she
wakened； the Coniston nurse perceived her movement； and made her a
cup of tea； which she drank with eager relish； but still they did not
speak； and once more Susan lay motionlessnot asleep； but strangely；
pleasantly conscious of all the small chamber and household sounds；
the fall of a cinder on the hearth； the fitful singing of the half…
empty kettle； the cattle tramping out to field again after they had
been milked； the aged step on the creaking stairold Peggy's； as she
knew。 It came to her door； it stopped； the person outside listened
for a moment； and then lifted the wooden latch； and looked in。 The
watcher by the bedside arose； and went to her。 Susan would have been
glad to see Peggy's face once more； but was far too weak to turn； so
she lay and listened。
〃How is she？〃 whispered one trembling； aged voice。
〃Better；〃 replied the other。 〃She's been awake； and had a cup of
tea。 She'll do now。〃
〃Has she asked after him？〃
〃Hush！ No； she has not spoken a word。〃
〃Poor lass！ poor lass！〃
The door was shut。 A weak feeling of sorrow and self…pity came over
Susan。 What was wrong？ Whom had she loved？ And dawning； dawning；
slowly rose the sun of her former life； and all particulars were made
distinct to her。 She felt that some sorrow was coming to her； and
cried over it before she knew what it was； or had strength enough to
ask。 In the dead of night；and she had never slept again；she
softly called to the watcher； and asked …
〃Who？〃
〃Who what？〃 replied the woman； with a conscious affright； ill…veiled
by a poor assumption of ease。 〃Lie still； there's a darling； and go
to sleep。 Sleep's better for you than all the doctor's stuff。〃
〃Who？〃 repeated Susan。 〃Something is wrong。 Who？〃
〃Oh； dear！〃 said the woman。 〃There's nothing wrong。 Willie has
taken the turn； and is doing nicely。〃
〃Father？〃
〃Well！ he's all right now；〃 she answered； looking another way； as if
seeking for something。
〃Then it's Michael！ Oh； me！ oh； me！〃 She set up a succession of
weak； plaintive； hysterical cries before the nurse could pacify her；
by declaring that Michael had been at the house not three hours
before to ask after her； and looked as well and as hearty as ever man
did。
〃And you heard of no harm to him since？〃 inquired Susan。
〃Bless the lass； no； for sure！ I've ne'er heard his name named since
I saw him go out of the yard as stout a man as ever trod shoe…
leather。〃
It was well； as the nurse said afterwards to Peggy； that Susan had
been so easily pacified by the equivocating answer in respect to her
father。 If she had pressed the questions home in his case as she did
in Michael's； she would have learnt that he was dead and buried more
than a month before。 It was well； too； that in her weak state of
convalescence （which lasted long after this first day of
consciousness） her perceptions were not sharp enough to observe the
sad change that had taken place in Willie。 His bodily strength
returned； his appetite was something enormous； but his eyes wandered
continually； his regard could not be arrested； his speech became
slow； impeded； and incoherent。 People began to say that the fever
had taken away the little wit Willie Dixon had ever possessed and
that they feared that he would end in being a 〃natural；〃 as they call
an idiot in the Dales。
The habitual affection and obedience to Susan lasted longer than any
other feeling that the boy had had previous to his illness； and；
perhaps； this made her be the last to perceive what every one else
had long anticipated。 She felt the awakening rude when it did come。
It was in this wise：…
One Jane evening； she sat out of do
