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！
curly； but of fine texture and good dark color； the arch of good
nature in the eyebrows； the erect forehead and neatly pointed
chin； all announce the man who will love and suffer later on。
And that he will not do so without sympathy is guaranteed by an
engaging sincerity and eager modest serviceableness which stamp
him as a man of amiable nature。 The moment he appears； Ramsden's
face expands into fatherly liking and welcome； an expression
which drops into one of decorous grief as the young man
approaches him with sorrow in his face as well as in his black
clothes。 Ramsden seems to know the nature of the bereavement。 As
the visitor advances silently to the writing table； the old man
rises and shakes his hand across it without a word： a long；
affectionate shake which tells the story of a recent sorrow
common to both。
RAMSDEN。 ＇concluding the handshake and cheering up＇ Well； well；
Octavius； it's the common lot。 We must all face it someday。 Sit
down。
Octavius takes the visitor's chair。 Ramsden replaces himself in
his own。
OCTAVIUS。 Yes： we must face it； Mr Ramsden。 But I owed him a
great deal。 He did everything for me that my father could have
done if he had lived。
RAMSDEN。 He had no son of his own； you see。
OCTAVIUS。 But he had daughters； and yet he was as good to my
sister as to me。 And his death was so sudden！ I always intended
to thank himto let him know that I had not taken all his care
of me as a matter of course； as any boy takes his father's care。
But I waited for an opportunity and now he is deaddropped
without a moment's warning。 He will never know what I felt。 ＇He
takes out his handkerchief and cries unaffectedly＇。
RAMSDEN。 How do we know that； Octavius？ He may know it： we
cannot tell。 Come！ Don't grieve。 ＇Octavius masters himself and
puts up his handkerchief＇。 That's right。 Now let me tell you
something to console you。 The last time I saw himit was in
this very roomhe said to me： 〃Tavy is a generous lad and the
soul of honor； and when I see how little consideration other men
get from their sons； I realize how much better than a son he's
been to me。〃 There！ Doesn't that do you good？
OCTAVIUS。 Mr Ramsden： he used to say to me that he had met only
one man in the world who was the soul of honor； and that was
Roebuck Ramsden。
RAMSDEN。 Oh； that was his partiality： we were very old friends；
you know。 But there was something else he used to say about you。
I wonder whether I ought to tell you or not！
OCTAVIUS。 You know best。
RAMSDEN。 It was something about his daughter。
OCTAVIUS。 ＇eagerly＇ About Ann！ Oh； do tell me that； Mr Ramsden。
RAMSDEN。 Well； he said he was glad； after all； you were not his
son； because he thought that someday Annie and you＇Octavius
blushes vividly＇。 Well； perhaps I shouldn't have told you。 But he
was in earnest。
OCTAVIUS。 Oh； if only I thought I had a chance！ You know； Mr
Ramsden； I don't care about money or about what people call
position； and I can't bring myself to take an interest in the
business of struggling for them。 Well； Ann has a most exquisite
nature； but she is so accustomed to be in the thick of that sort
of thing that she thinks a man's character incomplete if he is
not ambitious。 She knows that if she married me she would have to
reason herself out of being ashamed of me for not being a big
success of some kind。
RAMSDEN。 ＇Getting up and planting himself with his back to the
fireplace＇ Nonsense； my boy； nonsense！ You're too modest。 What
does she know about the real value of men at her age？ ＇More
seriously＇ Besides； she's a wonderfully dutiful girl。 Her
father's wish would be sacred to her。 Do you know that since she
grew up to years of discretion； I don't believe she has ever once
given her own wish as a reason for doing anything or not doing
it。 It's always 〃Father wishes me to；〃 or 〃Mother wouldn't like
it。〃 It's really almost a fault in her。 I have often told her she
must learn to think for herself。
OCTAVIUS。 ＇shaking his head＇ I couldn't ask her to marry me
because her father wished it； Mr Ramsden。
RAMSDEN。 Well； perhaps not。 No： of course not。 I see that。 No：
you certainly couldn't。 But when you win her on your own merits；
it will be a great happiness to her to fulfil her father's desire
as well as her own。 Eh？ Come！ you'll ask her； won't you？
OCTAVIUS。 ＇with sad gaiety＇ At all events I promise you I shall
never ask anyone else。
RAMSDEN。 Oh； you shan't need to。 She'll accept you； my boy
although ＇here be suddenly becomes very serious indeed＇ you have
one great drawback。
OCTAVIUS。 ＇anxiously＇ What drawback is that； Mr Ramsden？ I should
rather say which of my many drawbacks？
RAMSDEN。 I'll tell you； Octavius。 ＇He takes from the table a book
bound in red cloth＇。 I have in my hand a copy of the most
infamous； the most scandalous； the most mischievous； the most
blackguardly book that ever escaped burning at the hands of the
common hangman。 I have not read it： I would not soil my mind with
such filth； but I have read what the papers say of it。 The title
is quite enough for me。 ＇He reads it＇。 The Revolutionist's
Handbook and Pocket Companion by John Tanner； M。I。R。C。； Member of the
Idle Rich Class。
OCTAVIUS。 ＇smiling＇ But Jack
RAMSDEN。 ＇testily＇ For goodness' sake； don't call him Jack under
my roof ＇he throws the book violently down on the table； Then；
somewhat relieved； he comes past the table to Octavius； and
addresses him at close quarters with impressive gravity＇。 Now；
Octavius； I know that my dead friend was right when he said you
were a generous lad。 I know that this man was your schoolfellow；
and that you feel bound to stand by him because there was a
boyish friendship between you。 But I ask you to consider the
altered circumstances。 You were treated as a son in my friend's
house。 You lived there； and your friends could not be turned from
the door。 This Tanner was in and out there on your account
almost from his childhood。 He addresses Annie by her Christian
name as freely as you do。 Well； while her father was alive； that
was her father's business； not mine。 This man Tanner was only a
boy to him： his opinions were something to be laughed at； like a
man's hat on a child's head。 But now Tanner is a grown man and
Annie a grown woman。 And her father is gone。 We don't as yet know
the exact terms of his will； but he often talked it over with me；
and I have no more doubt than I have that you're sitting there
that the will appoints me Annie's trustee and guardian。
＇Forcibly＇ Now I tell you； once for all； I can't and I won't have
Annie placed in such a position that she must； out of regard for
you； suffer the intimacy of this fellow Tanner。 It's not fair：
it's not right： it's not kind。 What are you going to do about it？
OCTAVIUS。 But Ann herself has told Jack that whatever his
opinions are； he will always be welcome because he knew her dear
father。
RAMSDEN。 ＇out of patience＇ That girl's mad about her duty to her
parents。 ＇He starts off like a goaded ox in the direction of John
Bright； in whose expression there is no sympathy for him。 As he
speaks； he fumes down to Herbert Spencer； who receives him still
more coldly＇ Excuse me； Octa