novel notes-第28章
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〃He was a friend of some cousins of mine；〃 Jephson began； 〃people I used to see a good deal of in my undergraduate days。 When I met him first he was a young fellow of twenty…six； strong mentally and physically； and of a stern and stubborn nature that those who liked him called masterful； and that those who disliked hima more numerous bodytermed tyrannical。 When I saw him three years later； he was an old man of twenty…nine； gentle and yielding beyond the border…line of weakness； mistrustful of himself and considerate of others to a degree that was often unwise。 Formerly； his anger had been a thing very easily and frequently aroused。 Since the change of which I speak； I have never known the shade of anger to cross his face but once。 In the course of a walk； one day； we came upon a young rough terrifying a small child by pretending to set a dog at her。 He seized the boy with a grip that almost choked him； and administered to him a punishment that seemed to me altogether out of proportion to the crime； brutal though it was。
〃I remonstrated with him when he rejoined me。
〃'Yes；' he replied apologetically； 'I suppose I'm a hard judge of some follies。' And； knowing what his haunted eyes were looking at； I said no more。
〃He was junior partner in a large firm of tea brokers in the City。 There was not much for him to do in the London office； and when； therefore； as the result of some mortgage transactions； a South Indian tea plantation fell into the hands of the firm； it was suggested that he should go out and take the management of it。 The plan suited him admirably。 He was a man in every way qualified to lead a rough life； to face a by no means contemptible amount of difficulty and danger； to govern a small army of native workers more amenable to fear than to affection。 Such a life； demanding thought and action； would afford his strong nature greater interest and enjoyment than he could ever hope to obtain amid the cramped surroundings of civilisation。
〃Only one thing could in reason have been urged against the arrangement； that thing was his wife。 She was a fragile； delicate girl； whom he had married in obedience to that instinct of attraction towards the opposite which Nature； for the purpose of maintaining her average； has implanted in our breastsa timid； meek…eyed creature； one of those women to whom death is less terrible than danger； and fate easier to face than fear。 Such women have been known to run screaming from a mouse and to meet martyrdom with heroism。 They can no more keep their nerves from trembling than an aspen tree can stay the quivering of its leaves。
〃That she was totally unfitted for； and would be made wretched by the life to which his acceptance of the post would condemn her might have readily occurred to him； had he stopped to consider for a moment her feelings in the matter。 But to view a question from any other standpoint than his own was not his habit。 That he loved her passionately； in his way； as a thing belonging to himself； there can be no doubt； but it was with the love that such men have for the dog they will thrash； the horse they will spur to a broken back。 To consult her on the subject never entered his head。 He informed her one day of his decision and of the date of their sailing； and； handing her a handsome cheque； told her to purchase all things necessary to her； and to let him know if she needed more； and she； loving him with a dog…like devotion that was not good for him； opened her big eyes a little wider； but said nothing。 She thought much about the coming change to herself； however； and； when nobody was by； she would cry softly； then； hearing his footsteps； would hastily wipe away the traces of her tears； and go to meet him with a smile。
〃Now； her timidity and nervousness； which at home had been a butt for mere chaff； became； under the new circumstances of their life； a serious annoyance to the man。 A woman who seemed unable to repress a scream whenever she turned and saw in the gloom a pair of piercing eyes looking out at her from a dusky face； who was liable to drop off her horse with fear at the sound of a wild beast's roar a mile off； and who would turn white and limp with horror at the mere sight of a snake； was not a companionable person to live with in the neighbourhood of Indian jungles。
〃He himself was entirely without fear； and could not understand it。 To him it was pure affectation。 He had a muddled idea； common to men of his stamp； that women assume nervousness because they think it pretty and becoming to them； and that if one could only convince them of the folly of it they might be induced to lay it aside； in the same way that they lay aside mincing steps and simpering voices。 A man who prided himself； as he did； upon his knowledge of horses； might； one would think； have grasped a truer notion of the nature of nervousness； which is a mere matter of temperament。 But the man was a fool。
〃The thing that vexed him most was her horror of snakes。 He was unblessedor uncursed； whichever you may preferwith imagination of any kind。 There was no special enmity between him and the seed of the serpent。 A creature that crawled upon its belly was no more terrible to him than a creature that walked upon its legs； indeed； less so； for he knew that； as a rule； there was less danger to be apprehended from them。 A reptile is only too eager at all times to escape from man。 Unless attacked or frightened； it will make no onset。 Most people are content to acquire their knowledge of this fact from the natural history books。 He had proved it for himself。 His servant； an old sergeant of dragoons； has told me that he has seen him stop with his face six inches from the head of a hooded cobra； and stand watching it through his eye…glass as it crawled away from him； knowing that one touch of its fangs would mean death from which there could be no possible escape。 That any reasoning being should be inspired with terrorsickening； deadly terrorby such pitifully harmless things； seemed to him monstrous； and he determined to try and cure her of her fear of them。
〃He succeeded in doing this eventually somewhat more thoroughly than he had anticipated； but it left a terror in his own eyes that has not gone out of them to this day； and that never will。
〃One evening； riding home through a part of the jungle not far from his bungalow； he heard a soft； low hiss close to his ear； and； looking up； saw a python swing itself from the branch of a tree and make off through the long grass。 He had been out antelope…shooting； and his loaded rifle hung by his stirrup。 Springing from the frightened horse； he was just in time to get a shot at the creature before it disappeared。 He had hardly expected； under the circumstances； to even hit it。 By chance the bullet struck it at the junction of the vertebrae with the head； and killed it instantly。 It was a well…marked specimen； and； except for the small wound the bullet had made； quite uninjured。 He picked it up； and hung it across the saddle； intending to take it home and preserve it。
〃Galloping along； glancing down every now and again at the huge； hideous thing swaying and writhing in front of him almost as if still alive； a brilliant idea occurred to him。 He would use this dead reptile to cure his wife of her fear of living ones。 He would fix matters so that she should see it； and think it was alive； and be terrified by it； then he would show her that she had been frightened by a mere dead thing； and she would feel ashamed of herself； and be healed of her folly。 It was the sort of idea that would occur to a fool。
〃When he reached home； he took the dead snake into his smoking…room； then； locking the door； the idiot set out his prescription。 He arranged the monster in a very natural and life…like position。 It appeared to be crawling from the open window across the floor； and any one coming into the room suddenly could hardly avoid treading on it。 It was very cleverly done。
〃That finished； he picked out a book from the shelves； opened it； and laid it face downward upon the couch。 When he had completed all things to his satisfaction he unlocked the door and came out； very pleased with himself。
〃After dinner he lit
