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！
did not repent。 In a sort of impulse to do something for him； she
took his hat from his hand； and was going to dispose of it in the
roof； when he turned； smiling his thanks； but saying； 〃it was not
worth whilethis carriage was a very transitory resting…place。〃
The stranger at that moment sprang to his feet； exclaiming； 〃Dick
himself！〃
〃Spencer； old fellow； is it you？〃 cried Dr。 May； in a voice of equal
amazement and joy； holding out his hand； which was grasped and wrung
with a force that made Ethel shrink for the poor maimed arm。
〃Ha！ what is amiss with your arm？〃 was the immediate question。 Three
technical words were spoken in a matter…of…fact way； as Dr。 May
replaced his hand in his bosom； and then； with an eager smile； said；
〃Ethel； here！ You have heard of him！〃
Ethel had indeed； and gave her hand cordially； surprised by the bow
and air of deferential politeness with which it was received； like a
favour； while Dr。 Spencer asked her whether she had been staying in
Oxford。
〃Ay； and what for； do you think？〃 said Dr。 May joyously。
〃You don't say that was your son who held forth yesterday！ I thought
his voice had a trick of yoursbut then I thought you would have
held by old Cambridge。〃
〃What could I do？〃 said Dr。 May deprecatingly； 〃the boy would go and
get a Balliol scholarship〃
〃Why！ the lad is a genius！ a poetno mistake about it！ but I
scarcely thought you could have one of such an age。〃
〃Of his age！ His brother is in Holy Ordersone of his sisters is
married。 There's for you； Spencer！〃
〃Bless me； Dick！ I thought myself a young man！〃
〃What！ with hair of that colour？〃 said Dr。 May； looking at his
friend's milk…white locks。
〃Bleached by that frightful sickly season at Poonshedagore； when I
thought I was done for。 But you！ youthe boy of the whole lot！ You
think me very disrespectful to your father；〃 added he； turning to
Ethel； 〃but you see what old times are。〃
〃I know；〃 said Ethel； with a bright look。
〃So you were in the theatre yesterday；〃 continued Dr。 May； 〃but there
is no seeing any one in such a throng。 How long have you been in
England？〃
〃A fortnight。 I went at once to see my sister； at Malvern； there I
fell in with Rudden； the man I was with in New Guinea。 He was going
up to be made an honorary doctor； and made me come with him。〃
〃And where are you bound for？〃 as the train showed signs of a halt。
〃For London。 I meant to hunt up Mat。 Fleet； and hear of you； and
other old friends。〃
〃Does he expect you？〃
〃No one expects me。 I am a regular vagabond。〃
〃Come home with us；〃 said Dr。 May； laying his hand on his arm。 〃I
cannot part with you so soon。 Come； find your luggage。 Take your
ticket for Gloucester。〃
〃So suddenly！ Will it not be inconvenient？〃 said he； looking
tempted； but irresolute。
〃Oh； no； no； pray come！〃 said Ethel eagerly。 〃We shall be so glad。〃
He looked his courteous thanks； and soon was with them en…route for
Stoneborough。
Ethel's thoughts were diverted from all she had left at Oxford。 She
could not but watch those two old friends。 She knew enough of the
traveller to enter into her father's happiness； and to have no fears
is of another Sir Matthew。
They had been together at Stoneborough； at Cambridge； at Paris； at
Edinburgh； always linked in the closest friendship； but； by Dr。 May's
own account； his friend had been the diligent one of the pair； a
bright compound of principle and spirit； and highly distinguished in
all his studies； and Dr。 May's model of perfection。 Their paths had
since lain far apart； and they had not seen each other since； twenty…
six years ago； they had parted in Londonthe one to settle at his
native town； while the other accepted a situation as travelling
physician。 On his return； he had almost sacrificed his life； by
self…devoted attendance on a fever…stricken emigrant…ship。 He had
afterwards received an appointment in India； and there the
correspondence had died away； and Dr。 May had lost traces of him；
only knowing that； in a visitation of cholera； he had again acted
with the same carelessness of his own life； and a severe illness；
which had broken up his health； had occasioned him to relinquish his
post。
It now appeared that he had thought himself coming home ever since。
He had gone to recruit in the Himalayas； and had become engrossed in
scientific observations on their altitudes； as well as investigations
in natural history。 Going to Calcutta； he had fallen in with a party
about to explore the Asiatic islands and he had accompanied them； as
well as going on an expedition into the interior of Australia。 He
had been employed in various sanitary arrangements there and in
India； and had finally worked his way slowly home； overland； visiting
Egypt and Palestine； and refreshing his memory with every Italian；
German； or French Cathedral； or work of art； that had delighted him
in early days。
He was a slight small man； much sunburned； nearly bald； and his hair
snowy； but his eyes were beautiful； very dark； soft； and smiling； and
yet their gaze peculiarly keen and steady； as if ready for any
emergency； and his whole frame was full of alertness and vigour。 His
voice was clear and sweet； and his manner most refined and polished；
indeed； his courtesy to Ethel； whenever there was a change of
carriage； was so exemplary； that she understood it as the effect on a
chivalrous mind； of living where a lady was a rare and precious
article。 It frightened Ethel a little at first； but； before the end
of the journey； she had already begun to feel towards him like an old
friendone of those inheritances who are so much valued and loved；
like a sort of uncles…in…friendship。 She had an especial grateful
honour for the delicate tact which asked no questions； as she saw his
eye often falling anxiously on her father's left hand； where the
wedding ring shone upon the little finger。
There was talk enough upon his travels； on public changes； and on old
friends； but； after those first few words； home had never been
mentioned。
When； at five o'clock； the engine blew its whistle； at the old
familiar station； Dr。 May had scarcely put his head out before Adams
hastened up to him with a note。
〃All well at home？〃
〃Yes； sir； Miss Margaret sent up the gig。〃
〃I must go at once；〃 said Dr May hastily〃the Larkins' child is
worse。 Ethel； take care of him； and introduce him。 Love to
Margaret。 I'll be at home before tea。〃
He was driven off at speed； and Ethel proposed to walk home。 Dr
Spencer gave her his arm； and was silent； but presently said； in a
low； anxious voice； 〃My dear； you must forgive me； I have heard
nothing for many years。 Your mother〃
〃It was an accident；〃 said Ethel looking straight before her。 〃It
was when papa's arm was hurt。 The carriage was over…turned。〃
〃And〃 repeated Dr Spencer earnestly
〃She was killed on the spot；〃 said Ethel； speaking shortly； and
abruptly。 If she was to say it at all； she could not do so
otherwise。
He was dreadfully shockedshe knew it by the shudder of his arm； and
a tight suppressed groan。 He did not speak； and Ethel； as if a
relief from the silence must be made； said wha