novel notes-第17章
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e water from coming into the rooms and swamping us。 During tea…time the saloon was usually illuminated by forked lightning。 The evenings we spent in baling out the boat； after which we took it in turns to go into the kitchen and warm ourselves。 At eight we supped； and from then until it was time to go to bed we sat wrapped up in rugs； listening to the roaring of the thunder； and the howling of the wind； and the lashing of the waves； and wondering whether the boat would hold out through the night。
Friends would come down to spend the day with uselderly； irritable people； fond of warmth and comfort； people who did not； as a rule； hanker after jaunts； even under the most favourable conditions； but who had been persuaded by our silly talk that a day on the river would be to them like a Saturday to Monday in Paradise。
They would arrive soaked； and we would shut them up in different bunks； and leave them to strip themselves and put on things of Ethelbertha's or of mine。 But Ethel and I； in those days； were slim； so that stout； middle…aged people in our clothes neither looked well nor felt happy。
Upon their emerging we would take them into the saloon and try to entertain them by telling them what we had intended to do with them had the day been fine。 But their answers were short； and occasionally snappy； and after a while the conversation would flag； and we would sit round reading last week's newspapers and coughing。
The moment their own clothes were dry （we lived in a perpetual atmosphere of steaming clothes） they would insist upon leaving us； which seemed to me discourteous after all that we had done for them； and would dress themselves once more and start off home； and get wet again before they got there。
We would generally receive a letter a few days afterwards； written by some relative； informing us that both patients were doing as well as could be expected； and promising to send us a card for the funeral in case of a relapse。
Our chief recreation； our sole consolation； during the long weeks of our imprisonment； was to watch from our windows the pleasure…seekers passing by in small open boats； and to reflect what an awful day they had had； or were going to have； as the case might be。
In the forenoon they would head up streamyoung men with their sweethearts； nephews taking out their rich old aunts； husbands and wives （some of them pairs； some of them odd ones）； stylish…looking girls with cousins； energetic…looking men with dogs； high…class silent parties； low…class noisy parties； quarrelsome family parties… …boatload after boatload they went by； wet； but still hopeful； pointing out bits of blue sky to each other。
In the evening they would return； drenched and gloomy； saying disagreeable things to one another。
One couple； and one couple only； out of the many hundreds that passed under our review； came back from the ordeal with pleasant faces。 He was rowing hard and singing； with a handkerchief tied round his head to keep his hat on； and she was laughing at him； while trying to hold up an umbrella with one hand and steer with the other。
There are but two explanations to account for people being jolly on the river in the rain。 The one I dismissed as being both uncharitable and improbable。 The other was creditable to the human race； and； adopting it； I took off my cap to this damp but cheerful pair as they went by。 They answered with a wave of the hand； and I stood looking after them till they disappeared in the mist。
I am inclined to think that those young people； if they be still alive； are happy。 Maybe； fortune has been kind to them； or maybe she has not； but in either event they are； I am inclined to think； happier than are most people。
Now and again； the daily tornado would rage with such fury as to defeat its own purpose by prematurely exhausting itself。 On these rare occasions we would sit out on the deck； and enjoy the unwonted luxury of fresh air。
I remember well those few pleasant evenings： the river； luminous with the drowned light； the dark banks where the night lurked； the storm…tossed sky； jewelled here and there with stars。
It was delightful not to hear for an hour or so the sullen thrashing of the rain； but to listen to the leaping of the fishes； the soft swirl raised by some water…rat； swimming stealthily among the rushes； the restless twitterings of the few still wakeful birds。
An old corncrake lived near to us； and the way he used to disturb all the other birds； and keep them from going to sleep； was shameful。 Amenda； who was town…bred； mistook him at first for one of those cheap alarm clocks； and wondered who was winding him up； and why they went on doing it all night； and； above all； why they didn't oil him。
He would begin his unhallowed performance about dusk； just as every respectable bird was preparing to settle down for the night。 A family of thrushes had their nest a few yards from his stand； and they used to get perfectly furious with him。
〃There's that fool at it again；〃 the female thrush would say； 〃why can't he do it in the day…time if he must do it at all？〃 （She spoke； of course； in twitters； but I am confident the above is a correct translation。）
After a while； the young thrushes would wake up and begin chirping； and then the mother would get madder than ever。
〃Can't you say something to him？〃 she would cry indignantly to her husband。 〃How do you think the children can get to sleep； poor things； with that hideous row going on all night？ Might just as well be living in a saw…mill。〃
Thus adjured； the male thrush would put his head over the nest； and call out in a nervous； apologetic manner：…
〃I say； you know； you there； I wish you wouldn't mind being quiet a bit。 My wife says she can't get the children to sleep。 It's too bad； you know； 'pon my word it is。〃
〃Gor on；〃 the corncrake would answer surlily。 〃You keep your wife herself quiet； that's enough for you to do。〃 And on he would go again worse than before。
Then a mother blackbird； from a little further off； would join in the fray。
〃Ah； it's a good hiding he wants； not a talking to。 And if I was a cock； I'd give it him。〃 （This remark would be made in a tone of withering contempt； and would appear to bear reference to some previous discussion。）
〃You're quite right； ma'am；〃 Mrs。 Thrush would reply。 〃That's what I tell my husband； but〃 （with rising inflection； so that every lady in the plantation might hear） 〃HE wouldn't move himself； bless you no； not if I and the children were to die before his eyes for want of sleep。〃
〃Ah； he ain't the only one； my dear；〃 the blackbird would pipe back； 〃they're all alike〃； then； in a voice more of sorrow than of anger：… 〃but there； it ain't their fault； I suppose； poor things。 If you ain't got the spirit of a bird you can't help yourself。〃
I would strain my ears at this point to hear if the male blackbird was moved at all by these taunts； but the only sound I could ever detect coming from his neighbourhood was that of palpably exaggerated snoring。
By this time the whole glade would be awake； expressing views concerning that corncrake that would have wounded a less callous nature。
〃Blow me tight； Bill；〃 some vulgar little hedge…sparrow would chirp out； in the midst of the hubbub； 〃if I don't believe the gent thinks 'e's a…singing。〃
〃'Tain't 'is fault；〃 Bill would reply； with mock sympathy。 〃Somebody's put a penny in the slot； and 'e can't stop 'isself。〃
Irritated by the laugh that this would call forth from the younger birds； the corncrake would exert himself to be more objectionable than ever； and； as a means to this end； would commence giving his marvellous imitation of the sharpening of a rusty saw by a steel file。
But at this an old crow； not to be trifled with； would cry out angrily：…
〃Stop that； now。 If I come down to you I'll peck your cranky head off； I will。〃
And then would follow silence for a quarter of an hour； after which the whole thing would begin again。
CHAPTER V
Brown and MacShaughnassy came down together on the Saturday afternoon； and； as soon as they had dried themselves； and had had some tea； we settled down to work。
Jephson had written that he would not be able to be
