round the red lamp(红灯四周)-第24章
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ROUND THE RED LAMP
revolutionised our views about urobilin。〃
He paused； but his sister sat silent； with bent head and flushed cheeks。
The little ebony cross rose and fell with her hurried breathings。
〃Dr。 James M‘Murdo O'Brien has； as you know； the offer of the
physiological chair at Melbourne。 He has been in Australia five years；
and has a brilliant future before him。 To…day he leaves us for Edinburgh；
and in two months' time； he goes out to take over his new duties。 You
know his feeling towards you。 It； rests with you as to whether he goes
out alone。 Speaking for myself； I cannot imagine any higher mission for
a woman of culture than to go through life in the company of a man who is
capable of such a research as that which Dr。 James M‘Murdo O'Brien has
brought to a successful conclusion。〃
〃He has not spoken to me；〃 murmured the lady。
〃Ah； there are signs which are more subtle than speech；〃 said her
brother； wagging his head。 〃But you are pale。 Your vasomotor system
is excited。 Your arterioles have contracted。 Let me entreat you to
compose yourself。 I think I hear the carriage。 I fancy that you may
have a visitor this morning； Ada。 You will excuse me now。〃
With a quick glance at the clock he strode off into the hall； and within
a few minutes he was rattling in his quiet； well…appointed brougham
through the brick…lined streets of Birchespool。
His lecture over； Professor Ainslie Grey paid a visit to his laboratory；
where he adjusted several scientific instruments； made a note as to the
progress of three separate infusions of bacteria； cut half…a…dozen sections
with a microtome； and finally resolved the difficulties of seven different
gentlemen； who were pursuing researches in as many separate lines of
inquiry。 Having thus conscientiously and methodically completed the
routine of his duties； he returned to his carriage and ordered the coachman
to drive him to The Lindens。 His face as he drove was cold and
impassive； but he drew his fingers from time to time down his prominent
chin with a jerky； twitchy movement。
The Lindens was an old…fashioned； ivy…clad house which had once
been in the country； but was now caught in the long； red…brick feelers of
the growing city。 It still stood back from the road in the privacy of its
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own grounds。 A winding path； lined with laurel bushes； led to the arched
and porticoed entrance。 To the right was a lawn； and at the far side；
under the shadow of a hawthorn； a lady sat in a garden…chair with a book
in her hands。 At the click of the gate she started； and the Professor；
catching sight of her； turned away from the door； and strode in her
direction。
〃What！ won't you go in and see Mrs。 Esdaile？〃 she asked； sweeping
out from under the shadow of the hawthorn。
She was a small woman； strongly feminine； from the rich coils of her
light…coloured hair to the dainty garden slipper which peeped from under
her cream…tinted dress。 One tiny well…gloved hand was outstretched in
greeting； while the other pressed a thick； green…covered volume against
her side。 Her decision and quick； tactful manner bespoke the mature
woman of the world； but her upraised face had preserved a girlish and
even infantile expression of innocence in its large； fearless； grey eyes； and
sensitive； humorous mouth。 Mrs。 O'James was a widow； and she was
two…and…thirty years of age； but neither fact could have been deduced from
her appearance。
〃You will surely go in and see Mrs。 Esdaile；〃 she repeated； glancing up
at him with eyes which had in them something between a challenge and a
caress。
〃I did not come to see Mrs。 Esdaile；〃 he answered； with no relaxation
of his cold and grave manner； 〃I came to see you。〃
〃I am sure I should be highly honoured；〃 she said； with just the
slightest little touch of brogue in her accent。 〃What are the students to do
without their Professor？〃
〃I have already completed my academic duties。 Take my arm； and
we shall walk in the sunshine。 Surely we cannot wonder that Eastern
people should have made a deity of the sun。 It is the great beneficent
force of Natureman's ally against cold； sterility； and all that is abhorrent
to him。 What were you reading？〃
〃Hale's Matter and Life。〃
The Professor raised his thick eyebrows。
〃Hale！〃 he said； and then again in a kind of whisper； 〃Hale！〃
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〃You differ from him？〃 she asked。
〃It is not I who differ from him。 I am only a monada thing of no
moment。 The whole tendency of the highest plane of modern thought
differs from him。 He defends the indefensible。 He is an excellent
observer； but a feeble reasoner。 I should not recommend you to found
your conclusions upon Hale。〃
〃I must read Nature's Chronicle to counteract his pernicious
influence；〃 said Mrs。 O'James； with a soft； cooing laugh。
Nature's Chronicle was one of the many books in which Professor
Ainslie Grey had enforced the negative doctrines of scientific agnosticism。
〃It is a faulty work；〃 said he； 〃I cannot recommend it。 I would rather
refer you to the standard writings of some of my older and more eloquent
colleagues。〃
There was a pause in their talk as they paced up and down on the green；
velvet…like lawn in the genial sunshine。
〃Have you thought at all；〃 he asked at last； 〃of the matter upon which I
spoke to you last night？〃
She said nothing； but walked by his side with her eyes averted and her
face aslant。
〃I would not hurry you unduly；〃 he continued。 〃I know that it is a
matter which can scarcely be decided off…hand。 In my own case； it cost
me some thought before I ventured to make the suggestion。 I am not an
emotional man； but I am conscious in your presence of the great
evolutionary instinct which makes either sex the complement of the other。〃
〃You believe in love； then？〃 she asked； with a twinkling； upward
glance。
〃I am forced to。〃
〃And yet you can deny the soul？〃
〃How far these questions are psychic and how far material is still sub
judice；〃 said the Professor； with an air of toleration。 〃Protoplasm may
prove to be the physical basis of love as well as of life。〃
〃How inflexible you are！〃 she exclaimed； 〃you would draw love down
to the level of physics。〃
〃Or draw physics up to the level of love。〃
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〃Come； that is much better；〃 she cried； with her sympathetic laugh。
〃That is really very pretty； and puts science in quite a delightful light。〃
Her eyes sparkled； and she tossed her chin wi
