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lazy tour of two idle apprentices-第14章

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London; and I have seen little or nothing of him。



I have many years to pass over before I can approach to anything

like a conclusion of this fragmentary narrative。  And even when

that later period is reached; the little that I have to say will

not occupy your attention for more than a few minutes。  Between six

and seven years ago; the gentleman to whom I introduced you in this

room; came to me; with good professional recommendations; to fill

the position of my assistant。  We met; not like strangers; but like

friends … the only difference between us being; that I was very

much surprised to see him; and that he did not appear to be at all

surprised to see me。  If he was my son or my brother; I believe he

could not be fonder of me than he is; but he has never volunteered

any confidences since he has been here; on the subject of his past

life。  I saw something that was familiar to me in his face when we

first met; and yet it was also something that suggested the idea of

change。  I had a notion once that my patient at the Inn might be a

natural son of Mr。 Holliday's; I had another idea that he might

also have been the man who was engaged to Arthur's first wife; and

I have a third idea; still clinging to me; that Mr。 Lorn is the

only man in England who could really enlighten me; if he chose; on

both those doubtful points。  His hair is not black; now; and his

eyes are dimmer than the piercing eyes that I remember; but; for

all that; he is very like the nameless medical student of my young

days … very like him。  And; sometimes; when I come home late at

night; and find him asleep; and wake him; he looks; in coming to;

wonderfully like the stranger at Doncaster; as he raised himself in

the bed on that memorable night!



The Doctor paused。  Mr。 Goodchild; who had been following every

word that fell from his lips up to this time; leaned forward

eagerly to ask a question。  Before he could say a word; the latch

of the door was raised; without any warning sound of footsteps in

the passage outside。  A long; white; bony hand appeared through the

opening; gently pushing the door; which was prevented from working

freely on its hinges by a fold in the carpet under it。



'That hand!  Look at that hand; Doctor!' said Mr。 Goodchild;

touching him。



At the same moment; the Doctor looked at Mr。 Goodchild; and

whispered to him; significantly:



'Hush! he has come back。'







CHAPTER III







The Cumberland Doctor's mention of Doncaster Races; inspired Mr。

Francis Goodchild with the idea of going down to Doncaster to see

the races。  Doncaster being a good way off; and quite out of the

way of the Idle Apprentices (if anything could be out of their way;

who had no way); it necessarily followed that Francis perceived

Doncaster in the race…week to be; of all possible idleness; the

particular idleness that would completely satisfy him。



Thomas; with an enforced idleness grafted on the natural and

voluntary power of his disposition; was not of this mind; objecting

that a man compelled to lie on his back on a floor; a sofa; a

table; a line of chairs; or anything he could get to lie upon; was

not in racing condition; and that he desired nothing better than to

lie where he was; enjoying himself in looking at the flies on the

ceiling。  But; Francis Goodchild; who had been walking round his

companion in a circuit of twelve miles for two days; and had begun

to doubt whether it was reserved for him ever to be idle in his

life; not only overpowered this objection; but even converted

Thomas Idle to a scheme he formed (another idle inspiration); of

conveying the said Thomas to the sea…coast; and putting his injured

leg under a stream of salt…water。



Plunging into this happy conception headforemost; Mr。 Goodchild

immediately referred to the county…map; and ardently discovered

that the most delicious piece of sea…coast to be found within the

limits of England; Ireland; Scotland; Wales; the Isle of Man; and

the Channel Islands; all summed up together; was Allonby on the

coast of Cumberland。  There was the coast of Scotland opposite to

Allonby; said Mr。 Goodchild with enthusiasm; there was a fine

Scottish mountain on that Scottish coast; there were Scottish

lights to be seen shining across the glorious Channel; and at

Allonby itself there was every idle luxury (no doubt) that a

watering…place could offer to the heart of idle man。  Moreover;

said Mr。 Goodchild; with his finger on the map; this exquisite

retreat was approached by a coach…road; from a railway…station

called Aspatria … a name; in a manner; suggestive of the departed

glories of Greece; associated with one of the most engaging and

most famous of Greek women。  On this point; Mr。 Goodchild continued

at intervals to breathe a vein of classic fancy and eloquence

exceedingly irksome to Mr。 Idle; until it appeared that the honest

English pronunciation of that Cumberland country shortened Aspatria

into 'Spatter。'  After this supplementary discovery; Mr。 Goodchild

said no more about it。



By way of Spatter; the crippled Idle was carried; hoisted; pushed;

poked; and packed; into and out of carriages; into and out of beds;

into and out of tavern resting…places; until he was brought at

length within sniff of the sea。  And now; behold the apprentices

gallantly riding into Allonby in a one…horse fly; bent upon staying

in that peaceful marine valley until the turbulent Doncaster time

shall come round upon the wheel; in its turn among what are in

sporting registers called the 'Fixtures' for the month。



'Do you see Allonby!' asked Thomas Idle。



'I don't see it yet;' said Francis; looking out of window。



'It must be there;' said Thomas Idle。



'I don't see it;' returned Francis。



'It must be there;' repeated Thomas Idle; fretfully。



'Lord bless me!' exclaimed Francis; drawing in his head; 'I suppose

this is it!'



'A watering…place;' retorted Thomas Idle; with the pardonable

sharpness of an invalid; 'can't be five gentlemen in straw hats; on

a form on one side of a door; and four ladies in hats and falls; on

a form on another side of a door; and three geese in a dirty little

brook before them; and a boy's legs hanging over a bridge (with a

boy's body I suppose on the other side of the parapet); and a

donkey running away。  What are you talking about?'



'Allonby; gentlemen;' said the most comfortable of landladies as

she opened one door of the carriage; 'Allonby; gentlemen;' said the

most attentive of landlords; as he opened the other。



Thomas Idle yielded his arm to the ready Goodchild; and descended

from the vehicle。  Thomas; now just able to grope his way along; in

a doubled…up condition; with the aid of two thick sticks; was no

bad embodiment of Commodore Trunnion; or of one of those many

gallant Admirals of the stage; who have all ample fortunes; gout;

thick sticks; tempers; wards; and nephews。  With this distinguished

naval appearance upon him; Thomas made a crab…like progress up a

clean little bulk…headed staircase; into a clean little bulk…headed

room; where he slowly deposited himself on a sofa; with a stick on

either hand of him; looking exceedingly grim。



'Francis;' said Thomas Idle; 'what do you think of this place?'



'I think;' returned Mr。 Goodchild; in a glowing way; 'it is

everything we expected。'



'Hah!' said Thomas Idle。



'There is the sea;' cried Mr。 Goodchild; pointing out of window;

'and here;' pointing to the lunch on the table; 'are shrimps。  Let

us … ' here Mr。 Goodchild looked out of window; as if in search of

something; and looked in again; … 'let us eat 'em。'



The shrimps eaten and the dinner ordered; Mr。 Goodchild went out to

survey the watering…place。  As Chorus of the Drama; without whom

Thomas could make nothing of the scenery; he by…and…by returned; to

have the following report screwed out of him。



In brief; it was the most delightful place ever seen。

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