Некоторое время сестра сидела молча, что случалось с ней довольно редко. "Вам надо было бы описать все то, что вы наблюдали во время своей практики", - сказал я. "Ах, -ответила она, вороша кочергой поленья, - если бы вы видели столько горя, сколько пришлось увидеть мне, вы не захотели бы писать об этом книгу. Она получилась бы слишком грустной". "Мне кажется, - прибавила она после долгого молчания, не выпуская из рук кочерги, - что только тот, кто никогда не страдал и не знает, что такое страдания, любит читать о них. Если бы я умела писать, я написала бы веселую книгу, такую, чтобы люди, читая ее, смеялись".
morning he called out to her, as usual, asking her how she was, and she answered, though she had to wait for a few seconds to gather strength to do so. He seemed to detect the effort, for he called back anxiously, 'Are you _sure_ you're all right, dear?' "'Yes,' she replied, 'getting on famously. Why?' "'I thought your voice sounded a little weak, dear,' he answered; 'don't call out if it tries you.' "Then for the first time she began to worry about herself--not for her own sake, but because of him. "'Do you think I _am_ getting weaker, nurse?' she asked me, fixing her great eyes on me with a frightened look. "'You're making yourself weak by calling out,' I answered, a little sharply. 'I shall have to keep that door shut.' "'Oh, don't tell him'--that was all her thought--'don't let him know it. Tell him I'm strong, won't you, nurse? It will kill him if he thinks I'm not getting well.' "I was glad when her sister came up, and I could get out of the room, for you're not much good at nursing when you feel, as I felt then, as though you had swallowed a tablespoon and it was sticking in your throat. "Later on, when I went in to him, he drew me to the bedside, and whispered me to tell him truly how she was. If you are telling a lie at all, you may just as well make it a good one, so I told him she was really wonderfully well, only a little exhausted after the illness, as was natural, and that I expected to have her up before him. "Poor lad! that lie did him more good than a week's doctoring and nursing; and next morning he called out more cheerily than ever to her, and offered to bet her a new bonnet against a new hat that he would race her, and be up first. "She laughed back quite merrily (I was in his room at the time). 'All right,' she said, 'you'll lose. I shall be well first, and I shall come and visit you.' "Her laugh was so bright, and her voice sounded so much stronger, that I really began to think she had taken a turn for the better, so that when on going in to her I found her pillow wet with tears, I could not understand it. "'Why, we were so cheerful just a minute ago,' I said; 'what's the matter?' "'Oh, poor Jack!' she moaned, as her little, wasted fingers opened and closed upon the counterpane. 'Poor Jack, it will break his heart.' "It was no good my saying anything. There comes a moment when something tells your patient all that is to be known about the case, and the doctor and the nurse can keep their hopeful assurances for where they will be of more use. The only thing that would have brought comfort to her then would have been to convince her that he would soon forget her and be happy without her. I thought it at the time, and I tried to say something of the kind to her, but I couldn't get it out, and she wouldn't have believed me if I had. "So all I could do was to go back to the other room, and tell him that I wanted her to go to sleep, and that he must not call out to her until I told him. "She lay very still all day. The doctor came at his usual hour and looked at her. He patted her hand, and just glanced at the untouched food beside her. "'Yes,' he said, quietly. 'I shouldn't worry her, nurse.' And I understood. "Towards evening she opened her eyes, and beckoned to her sister, who was standing by the bedside, to bend down. "'Jeanie,' she whispered, 'do you think it wrong to deceive any one when it's for their own good?' "'I don't know,' said the girl, in a dry voice; 'I shouldn't think so. Why do you ask?' "'Jeanie, your voice was always very much like mine--do you remember, they used to mistake us at home. Jeanie, call out for me--just till--till he's a bit better; promise me.' "They had loved each other, those two, more than is common among sisters. Jeanie could not answer, but she pressed her sister closer in her arms, and the other was satisfied. "Then, drawing all her little stock of life together for one final effort, the child raised herself in her sister's arms. "'Good-night, Jack,' she called out, loud and clear enough to be heard through the closed door. "'Good-night, little wife,' he cried back, cheerily; 'are you all right?' "'Yes, dear. Good-night.' "Her little, worn-out frame dropped back upon the bed, and the next thing I remember is snatching up a pillow, and holding it tight-pressed against Jeanie's face for fear the sound of her sobs should penetrate into the next room; and afterwards we both got out, somehow, by the other door, and rushed downstairs, and clung to each other in the back kitchen. "How we two women managed to keep up the deceit, as, for three whole days, we did, I shall never myself know. Jeanie sat in the room where her dead sister, from its head to its sticking-up feet, lay outlined under the white sheet; and I stayed beside the living man, and told lies and acted lies, till I took a joy in them, and had to guard against the danger of over-elaborating them. "He wondered at what he thought my 'new merry mood,' and I told him it was because of my delight that his wife was out of danger; and then I went on for the pure devilment of the thing, and told him that a week ago, when we had let him think his wife was growing stronger, we had been deceiving him; that, as a matter of fact, she was at that time in great peril, and I had been in hourly alarm concerning her, but that now the strain was over, and she was safe; and I dropped down by the foot of the bed, and burst into a fit of laughter, and had to clutch hold of the bedstead to keep myself from rolling on the floor. "He had started up in bed with a wild white face when Jeanie had first answered him from the other room, though the sisters' voices had been so uncannily alike that I had never been able to distinguish one from the other at any time. I told him the slight change was the result of the fever, that his own voice also was changed a little, and that such was always the case with a person recovering from a long illness. To guide his thoughts away from the real clue, I told him Jeanie had broken down with the long work, and that, the need for her being past, I had packed her off into the country for a short rest. That afternoon we concocted a letter to him, and I watched Jeanie's eyes with a towel in my hand while she wrote it, so that no tears should fall on it, and that night she travelled twenty miles down the Great Western line to post it, returning by the next up-train. "No suspicion of the truth ever occurred to him, and the doctor helped us out with our deception; yet his pulse, which day by day had been getting stronger, now beat feebler every hour. In that part of the country where I was born and grew up, the folks say that wherever the dead lie, there round about them, whether the time be summer or winter, the air grows cold and colder, and that no fire, though you pile the logs half-way up the chimney, will ever make it warm. A few months' hospital training generally cures one of all fanciful notions about death, but this idea I have never been able to get rid of. My thermometer may show me sixty, and I may try to believe that the temperature _is_ sixty, but if the dead are beside me I feel cold to the marrow of my bones. I could _see_ the chill from the dead room crawling underneath the door, and creeping up about his bed, and reaching out its hand to touch his heart. "Jeanie and I redoubled our efforts, for it seemed to us as if Death were waiting just outside in the passage, watching with his eye at the keyhole for either of us to make a blunder and let the truth slip out. I hardly ever left his side except now and again to go into that next room, and poke an imaginary fire, and say a few chaffing words to an imaginary living woman on the bed where the dead one lay; and Jeanie sat close to the corpse, and called out saucy messages to him, or reassuring answers to his anxious questions. "At times, knowing that if we stopped another moment in these rooms we should scream, we would steal softly out and rush downstairs, and, shutting ourselves out of hearing in a cellar underneath the yard, laugh till we reeled against the dirty walls. I think we were both getting a little mad. "One day--it was the third of that nightmare life, so I learned afterwards, though for all I could have told then it might have been the three hundredth, for Time seemed to have fled from that house as from a dream, so that all things were tangled-- I made a slip that came near to ending the matter, then and there. "I had gone into that other room. Jeanie had left her post for a moment, and the place was empty. "I did not think what I was doing. I had not closed my eyes that I can remember since the wife had died, and my brain and my senses were losing their hold of one another. I went through my usual performance of talking loudly to the thing underneath the white sheet, and noisily patting the
pillows and rattling the bottles on the table. "On my return, he asked me how she was, and I answered, half in a dream, 'Oh, bonny, she's trying to read a little,' and he raised himself on his elbow and called out to her, and for answer there came back silence--not the silence that _is_ silence, but the silence that is as a voice. I do not know if you understand what I mean by that. If you had lived among the dead as long as I have, you would know. "I darted to the door and pretended to look in. 'She's fallen asleep,' I whispered, closing it; and he said nothing, but his eyes looked queerly at me. "That night, Jeanie and I stood in the hall talking. He had fallen to sleep early, and I had locked the door between the two rooms, and put the key in my pocket, and had stolen down to tell her what had happened, and to consult with her. "'What can we do! God help us, what can we do!' was all that Jeanie could say. We had thought that in a day or two he would be stronger, and that the truth might be broken to him. But instead of that he had grown so weak, that to excite his suspicions now by moving him or her would be to kill him. "We stood looking blankly in each other's faces, wondering how the problem could be solved; and while we did so the problem solved itself. "The one woman-servant had
gone out, and the house was very silent--so silent that I could hear the ticking of Jeanie's watch inside her dress. Suddenly, into the stillness there came a sound. It was not a cry. It came from no human voice. I have heard the voice of human pain till I know its every note, and have grown careless to it; but I have prayed God on my knees that I may never hear that sound again, for it was the sob of a soul. "It wailed through the quiet house and passed away, and neither of us stirred. "At length, with the
return of the blood to our veins, we went upstairs together. He had crept from his own room along the passage into hers. He had not had strength enough to pull the sheet off, though he had tried. He lay across the bed with one hand grasping hers." * * * * * My nurse sat for a while without speaking, a somewhat unusual thing for her to do. "You ought to write your experiences," I said. "Ah!" she said, giving the fire a contemplative poke, "if you'd seen as much sorrow in the world as I have, you wouldn't want to write a sad book." "I think," she added,
after a long pause, with the poker still in her hand, "it can only be the people who have never _known_ suffering who can care to read of it. If I could write a book, I should write a merry book--a book that would make people laugh."
CHAPTER IX
ГЛАВА IX
| The discussion arose in this way. I had proposed a match between our villain and the daughter of the local chemist, a singularly noble and pure-minded girl, the humble but worthy friend of the heroine. | Спор начался с того, что я предложил женить нашего злодея на дочери местного аптекаря, благородной и чистой девушке, скромной, но достойной подруге главной героини. |
| Brown had refused his consent on the ground of improbability. | Браун не согласился, считая такой брак совершенно невероятным. |
| "What in thunder would induce him to marry _her_?" he asked. | - Какой черт заставит его жениться именно на ней? - спросил он. |
| "Love!" I replied; "love, that burns as brightly in the meanest villain's breast as in the proud heart of the good young man." | - Любовь, - ответил я, - любовь, которая вспыхивает таким же ярким пламенем в груди последнего негодяя, как и в гордом сердце добродетельного юноши. |
| "Are you trying to be light and amusing," returned Brown, severely, "or are you supposed to be discussing the matter seriously? | - Что же мы, - строго возразил Браун, -собираемся балагурить и смешить читателя, или мы пишем серьезную книгу? |
| What attraction could such a girl have for such a man as Reuben Neil?" | Ну чем такая девушка, как дочь аптекаря, может привлечь такого парня, как Рюбен Нейл? |
| "Every attraction," I retorted. | - Всем, - вырвалось у меня. |
| "She is the exact moral contrast to himself. | - В моральном отношении эта девушка его полная противоположность. |
| She is beautiful (if she's not beautiful enough, we can touch her up a bit), and, when the father dies, there will be the shop." | Она красива (если недостаточно, то мы слегка добавим ей красок), а после смерти отца она получит аптеку. |
| "Besides," I added, "it will make the thing seem more natural if everybody wonders what on earth could have been the reason for their marrying each other." | К тому же, - прибавил я, - если читатель так и не поймет, что же в конце концов заставило их пожениться, то тем естественнее это будет выглядеть. |
| Brown wasted no further words on me, but turned to MacShaughnassy. | Браун не стал больше спорить со мной и повернулся к Мак-Шонесси: |
| "Can _you_ imagine our friend Reuben seized with a burning desire to marry Mary Holme?" he asked, with a smile. | - А ты можешь себе представить, чтобы наш друг Рюбен воспылал страстью к такой девушке, как Мэри Холм, и женился на ней? |
| "Of course I can," said MacShaughnassy; "I can imagine anything, and believe anything of anybody. | - Конечно, - подтвердил Мак-Шонесси, - я могу представить себе все что угодно и поверить любой нелепости, Совершенной любым человеком. |
| It is only in novels that people act reasonably and in accordance with what might be expected of them. | Люди бывают благоразумны и поступают так, как можно от них ожидать, только в романах. |
| I knew an old sea-captain who used to read the _Young Ladies' Journal_ in bed, and cry over it. | Я знал, например, старого морского капитана, который по вечерам читал в постели "Журнал для молодых девушек" и даже плакал над ним. |
| I knew a bookmaker who always carried Browning's poems about with him in his pocket to study in the train. | Я знал бухгалтера, который носил с собой в кармане томик стихов Браунинга и зачитывался ими, когда ехал на работу. |
| I have known a Harley Street doctor to develop at forty-eight a sudden and overmastering passion for switchbacks, and to spend every hour he could spare from his practice at one or other of the exhibitions, having three-pen'orths one after the other. | Я знал одного врача, жившего на Харли-стрит. В сорок восемь лет он внезапно воспылал непреодолимой страстью к американским горам и все свободное от посещения больных время проводил около этих аттракционов, совершая одну трехпенсовую поездку за другой. |
| I have known a book-reviewer give oranges (not poisoned ones) to children. | Я знал литературного критика, который угощал детей апельсинами (притом, заметьте, не отравленными). |
| A man is not a character, he is a dozen characters, one of them prominent, the other eleven more or less undeveloped. | В каждом человеке таится не одна какая-нибудь личность, а целая дюжина. Одна из них становится главной, а остальные одиннадцать остаются в более или менее зачаточном состоянии. |
| I knew a man once, two of whose characters were of equal value, and the consequences were peculiar." | Однажды я встретился с человеком, у которого было две одинаково развитые личности, и это привело к самым необыкновенным последствиям. |
| We begged him to relate the case to us, and he did so. | Мы попросили Мак-Шонесси рассказать нам эту историю, и он согласился. |
| "He was a Balliol man," said MacShaughnassy, "and his Christian name was Joseph. | - Это был человек, учившийся в Оксфорде и принадлежавший к колледжу Баллиол, - начал он. - Звали его Джозеф. |
| He was a member of the | Он состоял членом клуба |
| 'Devonshire' at the time I knew him, and was, I think, the most superior person I have ever met. | "Девоншир", держался страшно высокомерно и издевался надо всем. |
| He sneered at the _Saturday Review_ as the pet journal of the suburban literary club; and at the _Athenaeum_ as the trade organ of the unsuccessful writer. | Он издевался над "Сатердей Ревью", называя его любимой газетой пригородных литературных клубов, а журнал "Атенеум" он окрестил профессиональным органом писателей-неудачников. |
| Thackeray, he considered, was fairly entitled to his position of favourite author to the cultured clerk; and Carlyle he regarded as the exponent of the earnest artisan. | Он считал, что Теккерей вполне заслужил славу любимого писателя мелких конторских служащих, а Карлейль, по его мнению, был только добросовестным ремесленником. |
| Living authors he never read, but this did not prevent his criticising them contemptuously. | Современной литературы он не читал, что не мешало ему критиковать ее и относиться к ней с пренебрежением. |
| The only inhabitants of the nineteenth century that he ever praised were a few obscure French novelists, of whom nobody but himself had ever heard. | Из всех писателей девятнадцатого века он ценил только нескольких французских романистов, о которых никто, кроме него, ничего не слыхал. |
| He had his own opinion about God Almighty, and objected to Heaven on account of the strong Clapham contingent likely to be found in residence there. | Он имел свое собственное мнение о господе боге и заявлял, что не хотел бы попасть на небо потому, что там наверняка засели все клефемские ханжи и святоши. |
| Humour made him sad, and sentiment made him ill. | От юмористических произведений он впадал в тоску, а от сентиментальных - заболевал. |
| Art irritated him and science bored him. | Искусство раздражало его, а науку он находил скучной. |
| He despised his own family and disliked everybody else. | Он презирал свою собственную семью и не любил чужих. |
| For exercise he yawned, and his conversation was mainly confined to an occasional shrug. | Для моциона он зевал, а участие его в разговоре проявлялось обычно в том, что, при случае, он пожимал плечами. |
| "Nobody liked him, but everybody respected him. | Его никто не любил, но все уважали. |
| One felt grateful to him for his condescension in living at all. | Казалось, живя среди нас, он делает нам снисхождение и мы должны быть благодарны ему за это. Но вот что случилось. |
| "One summer, I was fishing over the Norfolk Broads, and on the Bank Holiday, thinking I would like to see the London | Однажды летом я занимался рыбной ловлей по ту сторону от Норфольк-Брод. В один прекрасный праздничный день мне вдруг пришло в голову, что неплохо было бы понаблюдать лондонского |
| 'Arry in his glory, I ran over to Yarmouth. | 'Арри во всем его блеске, и я поехал в Ярмут. |
| Walking along the sea-front in the evening, I suddenly found myself confronted by four remarkably choice specimens of the class. | Вечером я вышел на Приморский бульвар и сразу же наткнулся на подходящую компанию из четырех чрезвычайно типичных лондонских парней. |
| They were urging on their wild and erratic career arm-in-arm. | Держась под руку и пошатываясь, они неудержимо неслись по панели. |
| The one nearest the road was playing an unusually wheezy concertina, and the other three were bawling out the chorus of a music-hall song, the heroine of which appeared to be 'Hemmer.' | Тот, который шел с краю, играл на хриплой гармонике, а трое других орали известную тогда во всех мюзик-холлах песенку о прелестной Хэммочке. |
| "They spread themselves right across the pavement, compelling all the women and children they met to step into the roadway. | Они шли во всю ширину тротуара, заставляя встречных женщин и детей сворачивать на мостовую. |
| I stood my ground on the kerb, and as they brushed by me something in the face of the one with the concertina struck me as familiar. | Я остался стоять на панели, и когда они прошли мимо, почти задевая меня, лицо парня с гармоникой показалось мне странно знакомым. |
| "I turned and followed them. | Я повернулся и пошел следом за ними. |
| They were evidently enjoying themselves immensely. | Они веселились вовсю. |
| To every girl they passed they yelled out, | Каждой девушке, которая попадалась им навстречу, они кричали: |
| 'Oh, you little jam tart!' and every old lady they addressed as 'Mar.' | "Эй ты, моя конфеточка!", а к пожилым дамам обращались со словом "мамаша". |
| The noisiest and the most vulgar of the four was the one with the concertina. | Самым шумным и самым вульгарным был парень с гармоникой. |
| "I followed them on to the pier, and then, hurrying past, waited for them under a gas-lamp. | Я пошел вслед за ними на мол, обогнал их и стал ждать под газовым фонарем. |
| When the man with the concertina came into the light and I saw him clearly I started. | Когда человек с гармоникой попал в полосу света, я вздрогнул: я мог бы присягнуть, что это Джозеф. |
| From the face I could have sworn it was Joseph; but everything else about him rendered such an assumption impossible. | Однако все остальное никак не вязалось с подобным предположением. |
| Putting aside the time and the place, and forgetting his behaviour, his companions, and his instrument, what remained was sufficient to make the suggestion absurd. | Не говоря уже о времени и месте, где я его встретил, о его поведении, приятелях и гармонике, еще масса мелочей делала такую мысль совершенно нелепой. |
| Joseph was always clean shaven; this youth had a smudgy moustache and a pair of incipient red whiskers. | Джозеф всегда был чисто выбрит; у этого молодчика были грязные усы и жиденькие рыжие бакенбарды, он щеголял в кричащем клетчатом костюме, какие обычно видишь только на сцене. |
| He was dressed in the loudest check suit I have ever seen, off the stage. He wore patent-leather boots with mother-of-pearl buttons, and a necktie that in an earlier age would have called down lightning out of Heaven. | На ногах его блестели лакированные ботинки с перламутровыми пуговицами, а галстук в прежние строгие времена навлек бы на себя громы небесные. |
| He had a low-crowned billycock hat on his head, and a big evil-smelling cigar between his lips. | На голове у него был маленький котелок, а во рту - большая зловонная сигара. |
| "Argue as I would, however, the face was the face of Joseph; and, moved by a curiosity I could not control, I kept near him, watching him. | И все-таки лицом он походил на Джозефа, и я, подстрекаемый любопытством, стал следить за ним, стараясь не отстать от его компании. |
| "Once, for a little while, I missed him; but there was not much fear of losing that suit for long, and after a little looking about I struck it again. | Один раз я чуть не потерял его из виду, но в таком костюме он не мог надолго затеряться в толпе, и вскоре я снова нашел его. |
| He was sitting at the end of the pier, where it was less crowded, with his arm round a girl's waist. | Он сидел на самом конце мола, где было меньше народа, и обнимал за талию молодую девушку. |
| I crept close. | Я подкрался как можно ближе. |
| She was a jolly, red- faced girl, good-looking enough, but common to the last degree. | Его подруга оказалась веселой, краснощекой, довольно хорошенькой, но чрезвычайно вульгарной. |
| Her hat lay on the seat beside her, and her head was resting on his shoulder. | Ее шляпа лежала рядом на скамейке, а голова покоилась на плече парня. |
| She appeared to be fond of him, but he was evidently bored. | Она казалась очень влюбленной, но ему, по-видимому, было с ней скучно. |
| "'Don'tcher like me, Joe?' I heard her murmur. | "Ты любишь меня, Джо? Говори, любишь?" -услышал я ее шепот. |
| "'Yas,' he replied, somewhat unconvincingly, 'o' course I likes yer.' | "А как же, люблю", - ответил он довольно небрежным тоном. |
| "She gave him an affectionate slap, but he did not respond, and a few minutes afterwards, muttering some excuse, he rose and left her, and I followed him as he made his way towards the refreshment-room. | Она нежно похлопала его по щеке, но он не ответил на эту ласку, а несколько минут спустя, пробормотав какое-то извинение, встал и один, без нее, пошел к буфету. |
| At the door he met one of his pals. | Я последовал за ним. |
| "'Hullo!' was the question, 'wot 'a yer done wi' 'Liza?' | У дверей он встретил своего собутыльника. "Эй, -окликнул тот, - куда ж ты подевал Лизу?" |
| "'Oh, I carn't stand 'er,' was his reply; 'she gives me the bloomin' 'ump. | "А ну ее, - услышал я, - уж очень она мне надоела. |
| You 'ave a turn with 'er.' | Если хочешь, иди проводи с ней время". |
| "His friend disappeared in the direction of 'Liza, and Joe pushed into the room, I keeping close behind him. | Приятель его пошел туда, где осталась Лиза, а Джо протискался в буфет. |
| Now that he was alone I was determined to speak to him. | Я не отставал от него, и теперь, когда он был один, решил заговорить с ним. |
| The longer I had studied his features the more resemblance I had found in them to those of my superior friend Joseph. | Чем дольше я вглядывался в его черты, тем больше я находил в них сходства с моим недосягаемым другом Джозефом. |
| "He was leaning across the bar, clamouring for two of gin, when I tapped him on the shoulder. | В буфете он навалился на стойку и громко потребовал двойную порцию джина. |
| He turned his head, and the moment he saw me, his face went livid. | Тут я хлопнул его по плечу, он обернулся, увидел меня, и лицо его покрылось мертвенной бледностью. |
| "'Mr. Joseph Smythe, I believe,' I said with a smile. | "Мистер Джозеф Смайт, если не ошибаюсь?" -сказал я с улыбкой. |
| "'Who's Mr. Joseph Smythe?' he answered hoarsely; 'my name's Smith, I ain't no bloomin' Smythe. | "Какой еще там Смайт! - грубо оборвал он меня. -Я Смит, а не какой-то там дурацкий Смайт. |
| Who are you? | А вы кто будете? |
| I don't know yer.' | Я вас не знаю". |
| "As he spoke, my eyes rested upon a curious gold ring of Indian workmanship which he wore upon his left hand. | Пока он говорил, я заметил на его левой руке характерный золотой перстень индийской работы. |
| There was no mistaking the ring, at all events: it had been passed round the club on more than one occasion as a unique curiosity. | Тут уж я никак не мог ошибиться: мы много раз рассматривали его в клубе, как исключительно интересную вещицу. |
| His eyes followed my gaze. He burst into tears, and pushing me before him into a quiet corner of the saloon, sat down facing me. | Парень уловил мой взгляд, лицо его исказилось, и, толкнув меня в угол, где было меньше народа, он сел, глядя мне прямо в глаза. |
| "'Don't give me away, old man,' he whimpered; 'for Gawd's sake, don't let on to any of the chaps 'ere that I'm a member of that blessed old waxwork show in Saint James's: they'd never speak to me agen. | "Не выдавай меня, старина, - прохныкал он, - ради бога не выдавай, а то, если здешние парни пронюхают, что я - один из восковых болванов сент-джеймской коллекции, они и знаться со мной не захотят. |
| And keep yer mug shut about Oxford, there's a good sort. | И ты, смотри, того: молчок про Оксфорд, не будь подлецом. |
| I wouldn't 'ave 'em know as 'ow I was one o' them college blokes for anythink.' | На кой им знать, что я из тех типов, которые учатся в колледжах". |
| "I sat aghast. | Я был ошеломлен. |
| I had listened to hear him entreat me to keep 'Smith,' the rorty 'Arry, a secret from the acquaintances of 'Smythe,' the superior person. | Он просил меня не раскрывать тайны Смита, завзятого лондонского 'Арри, знакомым Смайта, недосягаемой персоны. |
| Here was 'Smith' in mortal terror lest his pals should hear of his identity with the aristocratic 'Smythe,' and discard him. | Передо мной сидел Смит в смертельном страхе, как бы его собутыльники не узнали, что он и аристократ Смайт одна и та же личность, и не выставили бы его вон. |
| His attitude puzzled me at the time, but, when I came to reflect, my wonder was at myself for having expected the opposite. | Тогда его поведение удивило меня, но потом, все обдумав, я понял, что именно этого и следовало от него ожидать. |
| "'I carn't 'elp it,' he went on; 'I 'ave to live two lives. | "Ну что ты тут поделаешь, - продолжал он, -хошь не хошь, а веди двойную жизнь. |
| 'Arf my time I'm a stuck-up prig, as orter be jolly well kicked--' | Половину времени я - задавака и хлыщ, которому надо бы дать хорошего пинка в зад..." |
| "'At which times,' I interrupted, 'I have heard you express some extremely uncomplimentary opinions concerning 'Arries.' | "Однако, - перебил я его, - раньше вы исключительно нелюбезно отзывались как раз о таких вот лондонских 'Арри". |
| "'I know,' he replied, in a voice betraying strong emotion; 'that's where it's so precious rough on me. | "Знаю, - согласился он, и голос его задрожал от волнения, - в том-то вся и беда. |
| When I'm a toff I despises myself, 'cos I knows that underneath my sneering phiz I'm a bloomin' 'Arry. | Когда я джельтмен, то мне тошно глядеть на себя, потому как я знаю: какую бы рожу ни корчил, но под низом я все одно самый последний 'Арри. |
| When I'm an 'Arry, I 'ates myself 'cos I knows I'm a toff.' | А когда я 'Арри, то так бы и разорвал себя, потому как знаю, что я все одно джельтмен". |
| "'Can't you decide which character you prefer, and stick to it?' I asked. | "Неужели же вы не можете решить, которая из ваших двух личностей вам ближе, и держаться за нее покрепче?" - спросил я. |
| "'No,' he answered, 'I carn't. | "Куда там, - отвечал он, - в том-то и дело, что не могу. |
| It's a rum thing, but whichever I am, sure as fate, 'bout the end of a month I begin to get sick o' myself.' "'I can quite understand it,' I murmured; 'I should give way myself in a fortnight.' | Удивительная это штука, но кем бы я ни становился, к концу месяца, хоть убей, мне уже тошно глядеть на себя". |
| "'I've been myself, now,' he continued, without noticing my remark, 'for somethin' like ten days. | "Сейчас я был самим собой, - продолжал он, -дней этак с десяток. |
| One mornin', in 'bout three weeks' time, I shall get up in my diggins in the Mile End Road, and I shall look round the room, and at these clothes 'angin' over the bed, and at this yer concertina' (he gave it an affectionate squeeze), 'and I shall feel myself gettin' scarlet all over. | В одно прекрасное утро, недельки через три, продеру я глаза у себя на Майль-Энд-род, осмотрю свою комнату, взгляну на "это вот" платье, висящее над кроватью, и на "эту вот" гармонику (он ласково похлопал ее) и почувствую, что краснею до самых лопаток. |
| Then I shall jump out o' bed, and look at myself in the glass. | Потом я спрыгну с постели и подойду к зеркалу. |
| "You howling little cad," I shall say to myself, "I have half a mind to strangle you"; and I shall shave myself, and put on a quiet blue serge suit and a bowler 'at, tell my landlady to keep my rooms for me till I comes back, slip out o' the 'ouse, and into the fust 'ansom I meets, and back to the Halbany. | "Эх ты, морда, жалкий, ничтожный хам, - скажу я сам себе, - вот так бы взял да и задушил тебя своими собственными руками". Затем я побреюсь, надену приличный синий костюм и котелок, велю хозяйке присматривать за моими комнатами, пока меня не будет, выскользну из дома, вскочу в первый попавшийся кэб и поеду назад на Олбэни. |
| And a month arter that, I shall come into my chambers at the Halbany, fling Voltaire and Parini into the fire, shy me 'at at the bust of good old 'Omer, slip on my blue suit agen, and back to the Mile End Road.' | А месяц спустя приду в свою квартиру на Олбэни, швырну Вольтера и Парини в огонь, повешу шляпу на бюст старика Гомера, снова надену свою синюю тройку и дерну назад на Майль-Энд-род". |
| "'How do you explain your absence to both parties?' I asked. | "А как вы объясняете свое отсутствие в обоих случаях?" - спросил я. |
| "'Oh, that's simple enough,' he replied. | "Ну, это проще простого, - ответил он. |
| 'I just tells my 'ousekeeper at the Halbany as I'm goin' on the Continong; and my mates 'ere thinks I'm a traveller.' | - Своей экономке на Олбэни я говорю, что уезжаю за границу, а здешние приятели считают меня коммивояжером. |
| "'Nobody misses me much,' he added, pathetically; | Все одно никто по мне не сохнет, - прибавил он патетическим тоном. |
| 'I hain't a partic'larly fetchin' sort o' bloke, either of me. | - Не шибко я кому-нибудь нужен, что на Олбэни, что здесь. |
| I'm sich an out-and- outer. | Такая уж я неприкаянная головушка. |
| When I'm an 'Arry, I'm too much of an 'Arry, and when I'm a prig, I'm a reg'lar fust prize prig. | Когда я 'Арри, то слишком уж хватаю через край, а когда я джельтмен, то самый что ни на есть первосортный джельтмен. |
| Seems to me as if I was two ends of a man without any middle. | Ну точь-в-точь, будто во мне две крайности, а середины-то и нет. |
| If I could only mix myself up a bit more, I'd be all right.' | Вот взять бы и соединить два края, тогда я был бы человек что надо". |
| "He sniffed once or twice, and then he laughed. | Он шмыгнул носом раза два, а потом рассмеялся. |
| 'Ah, well,' he said, casting aside his momentary gloom; 'it's all a game, and wot's the odds so long as yer 'appy. | "Э, чего там еще, - сказал он, стряхнув набежавшее на него уныние. - Жизнь - игра; выиграешь ты или проиграешь - все одно, лишь бы повеселиться. |
| ' Ave a wet?' | Пойдем промочим глотку?" |
| "I declined the wet, and left him playing sentimental airs to himself upon the concertina. | Я отказался "промочить глотку" и ушел, а он продолжал наигрывать сентиментальные мелодии на своей гармонике. |
| "One afternoon, about a month later, the servant came to me with a card on which was engraved the name of | Однажды вечером, примерно месяц спустя, горничная подала мне визитную карточку, на которой стояло: |
| 'Mr. Joseph Smythe.' | "Мистер Джозеф Смайт". |
| I requested her to show him up. | Я велел просить его. |
| He entered with his usual air of languid superciliousness, and seated himself in a graceful attitude upon the sofa. | Он вошел со своим обычным видом томного высокомерия, сел на диван и принял изящную позу. |
| "'Well,' I said, as soon as the girl had closed the door behind her, 'so you've got rid of Smith?' | "Итак, - начал я, как только горничная закрыла за собой дверь, - вы, значит, освободились от "Смита"?" |
| "A sickly smile passed over his face. | Болезненная улыбка исказила его лицо. |
| 'You have not mentioned it to any one?' he asked anxiously. | "Но вы никому ничего не говорили об этом?" - о волнением спросил он. |
| "'Not to a soul,' I replied; 'though I confess I often feel tempted to.' | "Ни одной живой душе, - ответил я, - хотя, сознаюсь, меня часто мучило искушение". |
| "'I sincerely trust you never will,' he said, in a tone of alarm. | "И я надеюсь, что вы никогда этого не сделаете? - продолжал он с тревогой в голосе. |
| 'You can have no conception of the misery the whole thing causes me. | - Вы не можете себе представить, как все это ужасно. |
| I cannot understand it. What possible affinity there can be between myself and that disgusting little snob passes my comprehension. | Я просто не понимаю, какое может быть сходство между мной и этим ничтожным пошляком? Непостижимо! |
| I assure you, my dear Mac, the knowledge that I was a ghoul, or a vampire, would cause me less nausea than the reflection that I am one and the same with that odious little Whitechapel bounder. | Уверяю вас, мой дорогой Мак, если бы я узнал, что бываю кровопийцей, вампиром, то это не угнетало бы меня так, как сознание, что я и этот гнусный тип из Уайтчепля одно и то же лицо. |
| When I think of him every nerve in my body--' | От такой мысли каждый мой нерв..." |
| "'Don't think about him any more,' I interrupted, perceiving his strongly- suppressed emotion. | Увидев, что он с трудом сдерживает волнение, я прервал его: "Не думайте о нем больше. |
| 'You didn't come here to talk about him, I'm sure. Let us dismiss him.' | Я уверен, что вы пришли ко мне не для того, чтобы говорить о нем". |
| "'Well,' he replied, 'in a certain roundabout way it is slightly connected with him. | "Нет, видите ли, - возразил он, - до некоторой степени мой приход связан именно с ним. |
| That is really my excuse for inflicting the subject upon you. You are the only man I _can_ speak to about it—if I shall not bore you?' | Простите, что я надоедаю вам, но вы единственный человек, с которым я могу говорить об этом, если только вам не скучно". |
| "'Not in the least,' I said. 'I am most interested.' | "О нет, нисколько, - ответил я, - наоборот, это мне очень интересно". |
| As he still hesitated, I asked him point-blank what it was. | И так как он все еще колебался, то я прямо спросил его, в чем же дело. |
| "He appeared embarrassed. | Он казался смущенным. |
| 'It is really very absurd of me,' he said, while the faintest suspicion of pink crossed his usually colourless face; 'but I feel I must talk to somebody about it. The fact is, my dear Mac, I am in love.' | "Все это очень глупо с моей стороны, - начал он, и при этом слабый намек на румянец окрасил его бледные щеки, - но дело в том, мой дорогой Мак, что я влюблен". |
| "'Capital!' I cried; 'I'm delighted to hear it.' (I thought it might make a man of him.) 'Do I know the lady?' | "Чудесно, - воскликнул я, - вы приводите меня в восторг! (У меня мелькнула мысль, что это могло бы сделать его настоящим человеком.) Я с ней знаком?" |
| "'I am inclined to think you must have seen her,' he replied; 'she was with me on the pier at Yarmouth that evening you met me.' | "Я склонен думать, что вы видели ее, - ответил он, - она была со мной на молу в Ярмуте, в тот вечер, когда мы встретились". |
| "'Not 'Liza!' I exclaimed. | "Как, неужели это Лиза?" - вырвалось у меня. |
| "'That was she,' he answered; 'Miss Elizabeth Muggins.' | "Да, она; мисс Элизабет Маггинз". |
| He dwelt lovingly upon the name. | Он с нежностью произнес ее имя. |
| "'But,' I said, 'you seemed--I really could not help noticing, it was so pronounced--you seemed to positively dislike her. | "Но, - не удержался я, - мне показалось, что она вам совсем не нравится. |
| Indeed, I gathered from your remark to a friend that her society was distinctly distasteful to you.' | Из нескольких слов, которые вы бросили тогда одному из ваших друзей, я понял, что ее общество было вам даже неприятно". |
| "'To Smith,' he corrected me. | "Не мне, а Смиту, - перебил он меня. |
| 'What judge would that howling little blackguard be of a woman's worth! | - Но как может судить о женщине этот гнусный тип? |
| The dislike of such a man as that is a testimonial to her merit!' | То, что она ему не нравится, только свидетельствует о ее достоинствах". |
| "'I may be mistaken,' I said; 'but she struck me as a bit common.' | "Может быть, я ошибся, - заметил я, - но мне показалось, что она немного простовата". |
| "'She is not, perhaps, what the world would call a lady,' he admitted; 'but then, my dear Mac, my opinion of the world is not such as to render _its_ opinion of much value to me. | "Да, пожалуй, она не совсем то, что в свете принято называть леди, - согласился он, - но видите ли, мой дорогой Мак, я не столь высокого мнения о свете, чтобы его мнение могло иметь для меня значение. |
| I and the world differ on most subjects, I am glad to say. | Я и свет, мы расходимся по многим пунктам, и я горжусь этим. |
| She is beautiful, and she is good, and she is my choice.' | Она хорошая, красивая девушка, и она моя избранница". |
| "'She's a jolly enough little girl,' I replied, 'and, I should say, affectionate; but have you considered, Smythe, whether she is quite--what shall we say--quite as intellectual as could be desired?' | "Лиза - славная девушка, - согласился я, - и, очевидно, добрая, но подумайте, Смайт, достаточно ли она... ну, как это сказать... достаточно ли она развита для вас?" |
| "'Really, to tell the truth, I have not troubled myself much about her intellect,' he replied, with one of his sneering smiles. | "По правде сказать, - возразил он с одной из своих насмешливых улыбок, - я не очень интересовался ее интеллектом. |
| 'I have no doubt that the amount of intellect absolutely necessary to the formation of a British home, I shall be able to supply myself. | Для того чтобы создать настоящий английский семейный очаг, вполне достаточно моего собственного интеллекта. В этом нет для меня ни малейшего сомнения. |
| I have no desire for an intellectual wife. | Мне не нужна развитая жена. |
| One is compelled to meet tiresome people, but one does not live with them if one can avoid it.' | Приходится, конечно, встречаться с надоедливыми людьми, но зачем же жить с ними, если можно этого избежать?" |
| "'No,' he continued, reverting to his more natural tone; 'the more I think of Elizabeth the more clear it becomes to me that she is the one woman in the world for whom marriage with me is possible. | "Нет, - продолжал он, возвращаясь к своему обычному тону, - чем больше я думаю об Элизабет, тем больше убеждаюсь, что она -единственная женщина, которая может стать моей женой. |
| I perceive that to the superficial observer my selection must appear extraordinary. | Согласен, что поверхностному наблюдателю мой выбор может показаться странным. |
| I do not pretend to explain it, or even to understand it. | Я не собираюсь объяснять его другим или осмыслять его сам. |
| The study of mankind is beyond man. | Познать человека - свыше человеческих сил. |
| Only fools attempt it. | Одни безумцы пытаются делать это. |
| Maybe it is her contrast to myself that attracts me. | Может быть, меня привлекает в Элизабет то, что она - моя полная противоположность. |
| Maybe my, perhaps, too spiritual nature feels the need of contact with her coarser clay to perfect itself. | Может быть, слишком одухотворенная личность для своего дальнейшего совершенствования нуждается в соприкосновении с более грубой материей. |
| I cannot tell. | Трудно сказать. |
| These things must always remain mysteries. | Подобные вещи должны всегда оставаться под покровом тайны. |
| I only know that I love her--that, if any reliance is to be placed upon instinct, she is the mate to whom Artemis is leading me.' | Я знаю только то, что люблю ее, и, если меня не обманывает моя интуиция, она - та подруга, к которой ведет меня Артемида". |
| "It was clear that he was in love, and I therefore ceased to argue with him. | Ясно было, что он влюблен, и я перестал с ним спорить. |
| 'You kept up your acquaintanceship with her, then, after you'--I was going to say 'after you ceased to be Smith,' but not wishing to agitate him by more mention of that person than I could help, I substituted, 'after you returned to the Albany?' | "Так, значит, вы продолжаете с ней встречаться и теперь (я чуть было не сказал: "когда вы уже больше не Смит", но побоялся расстроить его, лишний раз упомянув это имя), когда вы вернулись на Олбэни?" |
| "'Not exactly,' he replied; | "Не совсем так, - ответил он. |
| 'I lost sight of her after I left Yarmouth, and I did not see her again until five days ago, when I came across her in an aerated bread shop. | - Когда я уехал из Ярмута, то потерял ее из виду и снова встретил только пять дней тому назад, в небольшой чистенькой кондитерской. |
| I had gone in to get a glass of milk and a bun, and _she_ brought them to me. | Я зашел туда, чтобы выпить стакан молока с кексом, и, представьте себе, подала мне их она. |
| I recognised her in a moment.' | Я сразу узнал ее". |
| His face lighted up with quite a human smile. | Здесь лицо его осветилось настоящей человеческой улыбкой. |
| 'I take tea there every afternoon now,' he added, glancing towards the clock, 'at four.' | "Теперь, каждый день в четыре часа, я пью там чай", - прибавил он и взглянул на стоявшие на камине часы. |
| "'There's not much need to ask _her_ views on the subject,' I said, laughing; 'her feelings towards you were pretty evident.' | "О том, как она относится к вам, нечего и спрашивать, - сказал я смеясь, - ее чувства к вам были совершенно очевидны". |
| "'Well, that is the curious part of it,' he replied, with a return to his former embarrassment; 'she does not seem to care for me now at all. | "Но самое странное во всей этой истории то, -продолжал он, и прежнее смущение снова овладело им, - что теперь я ей совсем не нравлюсь. |
| Indeed, she positively refuses me. | Она просто гонит меня. |
| She says--to put it in the dear child's own racy language--that she wouldn't take me on at any price. | Выражаясь собственными словами прелестной малютки, она не хочет меня "ни за какие деньги". |
| She says it would be like marrying a clockwork figure without the key. | Она заявила, что выйти за меня замуж - это все равно что вступить в брак с заводной игрушкой, ключ от которой потерян. |
| She's more frank than complimentary, but I like that.' | Ее слова скорее откровенны, нежели любезны, но мне это нравится". |
| "'Wait a minute,' I said; 'an idea occurs to me. Does she know of your identity with Smith?' | "Позвольте, - перебил я его, - а знает ли она, что вы и Смит это одно и то же лицо?" |
| "'No,' he replied, alarmed, | "Что вы! - с тревогой ответил он. |
| ' I would not have her know it for worlds. | - Она ни в коем случае не должна этого знать. |
| Only yesterday she told me that I reminded her of a fellow she had met at Yarmouth, and my heart was in my mouth.' | Вчера она заметила, что я похож на одного парня из Ярмута, и я просто похолодел от ужаса". |
| "'How did she look when she told you that?' I asked. | "А с каким видом сказала она это?" |
| "'How did she look?' he repeated, not understanding me. | "То есть как с каким видом?" - повторил он, не понимая. |
| "'What was her expression at that moment?' I said--'was it severe or tender?' | "Каким тоном говорила она об этом парне -сурово или ласково?" |
| "'Well,' he replied, 'now I come to think of it, she did seem to soften a bit just then.' | "А знаете, - ответил он, - теперь, когда я вспоминаю ее слова, мне кажется, что, говоря о парне из Ярмута, она как-то потеплела". |
| "'My dear boy,' I said, 'the case is as clear as daylight. | "Мой милый друг, - сказал я, - все ясно как день. |
| She loves Smith. | Она любит Смита. |
| No girl who admired Smith could be attracted by Smythe. | Ни одна девушка, которой нравится Смит, не может увлечься Смайтом. |
| As your present self you will never win her. | В вашем настоящем виде вы никогда не покорите ее. |
| In a few weeks' time, however, you will be Smith. Leave the matter over until then. | Отложите дело до того времени, когда станете Смитом, что случится, очевидно, через несколько недель. |
| Propose to her as Smith, and she will accept you. | Сделайте ей предложение в образе Смита, и она примет его. |
| After marriage you can break Smythe gently to her.' | А после брака вы сможете, мало-помалу и осторожно, познакомить ее со Смайтом". |
| "'By Jove!' he exclaimed, startled out of his customary lethargy, 'I never thought of that. | "Черт возьми, - воскликнул он, забывая свою обычную флегматичность, - я не подумал об этом! |
| The truth is, when I am in my right senses, Smith and all his affairs seem like a dream to me. Any idea connected with him would never enter my mind.' | Ведь когда я в здравом уме, то Смит и все, что его касается, представляется мне просто сном, и мысль о нем просто не пришла бы мне в голову". |
| "He rose and held out his hand. | Он поднялся и протянул мне руку. |
| 'I am so glad I came to see you,' he said; 'your suggestion has almost reconciled me to my miserable fate. | "Я так рад, что зашел к вам, - проговорил он. -Ваш совет почти примиряет меня с моей ужасной судьбой. |
| Indeed, I quite look forward to a month of Smith, now.' | Теперь я, пожалуй, даже с нетерпением буду ждать того времени, когда на целый месяц стану Смитом". |
| "'I'm so pleased,' I answered, shaking hands with him. | "Очень приятно, - ответил я, пожимая его руку. |
| 'Mind you come and tell me how you get on. | - Не забудьте же зайти и рассказать мне все подробно. |
| Another man's love affairs are not usually absorbing, but there is an element of interest about yours that renders the case exceptional.' | Чужие любовные дела обычно не особенно интересны, но ваш случай такой необыкновенный, что может считаться исключением из правила". |
| "We parted, and I did not see him again for another month. | Мы расстались, и я не видел его в течение целого месяца. |
| Then, late one evening, the servant knocked at my door to say that a Mr. Smith wished to see me. | Но однажды, поздно вечером, горничная явилась ко мне со словами, что меня хочет видеть мистер Смит. |
| "'Smith, Smith,' I repeated; 'what Smith? didn't he give you a card?' | "Смит, Смит, - пробормотал я, - какой Смит? Разве он не дал вам визитной карточки?" |
| "'No, sir,' answered the girl; 'he doesn't look the sort that would have a card. | "Нет, сэр, - ответила девушка, - он не из тех, что имеют визитные карточки. |
| He's not a gentleman, sir; but he says you'll know him.' | Это не джентльмен, сэр. Но он говорит, что вы знаете его". |
| She evidently regarded the statement as an aspersion upon myself. | Было ясно, что она ему не поверила. |
| "I was about to tell her to say I was out, when the recollection of Smythe's other self flashed into my mind, and I directed her to send him up. | Я готов был сказать, что меня нет дома, но вспомнил вдруг вторую личину Смайта и велел провести его к себе. |
| "A minute passed, and then he entered. | Он вошел не сразу. |
| He was wearing a new suit of a louder pattern, if possible, than before. | На нем был костюм еще более крикливого покроя, чем прежде, если только это возможно. |
| I think he must have designed it himself. | Я подумал, что он, должно быть, сам изобрел для себя такой фасон. |
| He looked hot and greasy. | Он был потный и грязный. |
| He did not offer to shake hands, but sat down awkwardly on the extreme edge of a small chair, and gaped about the room as if he had never seen it before. | Вместо того чтобы протянуть мне руку, он робко сел на краешек стула и осмотрелся кругом с таким видом, как будто впервые видел мою комнату. |
| "He communicated his shyness to myself. I could not think what to say, and we sat for a while in painful silence. | Его застенчивость передалась мне, я не знал, что сказать, и некоторое время мы просидели в неловком молчании. |
| "'Well,' I said, at last, plunging head-foremost into the matter, according to the method of shy people, 'and how's 'Liza?' | "Ну, - решился я наконец и, следуя методу застенчивых людей, сразу взял быка за рога. -Как поживает Лиза?" |
| "'Oh, _she's_ all right,' he replied, keeping his eyes fixed on his hat. | "Лиза? А что ей делается!" - отвечал он, не отводя глаз от шляпы, которую держал в руках. |
| "'Have you done it?' I continued. | "Вы добились своего?" - продолжал я. |
| "'Done wot?' he asked, looking up. | "Чего это?" - переспросил он, поднимая глаза. |
| "'Married her.' | "Вы женились на ней?" |
| "'No,' he answered, returning to the contemplation of his hat. | "Как бы не так", - ответил он и снова возвратился к созерцанию своей шляпы. |
| "'Has she refused you then?' I said. | "Как, неужели она отказала вам?" - изумился я. |
| "'I ain't arst 'er,' he returned. | "А я ее и не спрашивал, - сказал он. - Очень она мне нужна!" |
| "He seemed unwilling to explain matters of his own accord. I had to put the conversation into the form of a cross-examination. | Я понял, что сам он не станет ничего рассказывать и что мне придется вытягивать из него все по кусочку. |
| "'Why not?' I asked; 'don't you think she cares for you any longer?' | "Но почему же? - продолжал я допытываться. -Разве вы перестали ей нравиться?" |
| "He burst into a harsh laugh. | Он грубо засмеялся: |
| 'There ain't much fear o' that,' he said; 'it's like 'aving an Alcock's porous plaster mashed on yer, blowed if it ain't. | "Ну, этого нечего бояться: она липнет ко мне, что твой пластырь, не сойти мне с этого места, коли вру. |
| There's no gettin' rid of 'er. | И никак мне от нее не отвязаться. |
| I wish she'd giv' somebody else a turn. I'm fair sick of 'er.' | Эх, ушла бы она к кому другому, а то у меня она вот где сидит!" |
| "'But you were enthusiastic about her a month ago!' I exclaimed in astonishment. | "Но вы с таким восторгом отзывались о ней всего месяц тому назад!" - вырвалось у меня. |
| "'Smythe may 'ave been,' he said; 'there ain't no accounting for that ninny, 'is 'ead's full of starch. | "Так ведь то был Смайт. От этого накрахмаленного болвана всего можно ожидать. |
| Anyhow, I don't take 'er on while I'm myself. I'm too jolly fly.' | Но пока я Смит, меня не проведешь, я малый не промах. |
| "'That sort o' gal's all right enough to lark with,' he continued; 'but yer don't want to marry 'em. They don't do yer no good. | С такими девчатами хорошо проводить время, -продолжал он, - но жениться - черта с два, на таких не женятся. |
| A man wants a wife as 'e can respect--some one as is a cut above 'imself, as will raise 'im up a peg or two--some one as 'e can look up to and worship. | Мужчина должен свою жену уважать. Нужно, чтобы она стояла на ступеньку-другую повыше тебя и тянула тебя за собой. Чтоб ты смотрел на нее снизу вверх и почитал. |
| A man's wife orter be to 'im a gawddess--a hangel, a--' | Хорошая жена - это богиня, это ангел". |
| "'You appear to have met the lady,' I remarked, interrupting him. | "Похоже на то, что вы уже встретили подходящую леди", - перебил я его. |
| "He blushed scarlet, and became suddenly absorbed in the pattern of the carpet. | Он густо покраснел и стал рассматривать узоры на ковре. |
| But the next moment he looked up again, and his face seemed literally transformed. | Потом он снова поднял голову, и я увидел, что лицо его совершенно преобразилось. |
| "'Oh! Mr. MacShaughnassy,' he burst out, with a ring of genuine manliness in his voice, 'you don't know 'ow good, 'ow beautiful she is. | "О мистер Мак-Шонесси, - воскликнул он, и в голосе его прозвучала нотка настоящей мужественной страсти, - до чего же она хороша, до чего прекрасна! |
| I ain't fit to breathe 'er name in my thoughts. | Смею ли я, ничтожный, даже мысленно произносить ее имя! |
| An' she's so clever. | А какая образованная! |
| I met 'er at that Toynbee 'All. There was a party of toffs there all together. | Впервой я увидел ее в Тойнби-холл, где в аккурат собрались самые отборные леди и джельтмены. |
| You would 'ave enjoyed it, Mr. MacShaughnassy, if you could 'ave 'eard 'er; she was makin' fun of the pictures and the people round about to 'er pa--such wit, such learnin', such 'aughtiness. | О если бы вы могли только ее слышать, мистер Мак-Шонесси! Она ходила со своим папашей и все веселила его: смеялась и над картинами, и над людьми. Ах, до чего же она остроумная, до чего ученая, и... какая гордая! |
| I follered them out and opened the carriage door for 'er, and she just drew 'er skirt aside and looked at me as if I was the dirt in the road. | Когда они пошли к выходу, я побежал за ними, открыл перед ней дверцу коляски, а она подобрала платье и посмотрела на меня ну прямо как на грязь под ногами. |
| I wish I was, for then perhaps one day I'd kiss 'er feet.' | Ах, если бы я в самом деле был грязью, я мог бы надеяться хоть когда-нибудь облобызать ее ножки". |
| "His emotion was so genuine that I did not feel inclined to laugh at him. | Его чувства были так искренни, что я не мог смеяться над ними. |
| 'Did you find out who she was?' I asked. | "А вы не разузнали, кто она?" - спросил я. |
| "'Yes,' he answered; 'I 'eard the old gentleman say "'Ome" to the coachman, and I ran after the carriage all the way to 'Arley Street. | "Как же, как же, - ответил он, - я слышал, как старый джельтмен крикнул кучеру "домой", и я бежал вслед за ними до самой Харлей-стрит. |
| Trevior's 'er name, Hedith Trevior.' | Тревиор, вот как ее зовут, Хэдит Тревиор". |
| "'Miss Trevior!' I cried, 'a tall, dark girl, with untidy hair and rather weak eyes?' | "Мисс Эдит Тревиор! - вырвалось у меня. -Небрежно причесанная высокая брюнетка с близорукими глазами?" |
| "'Tall and dark,' he replied 'with 'air that seems tryin' to reach 'er lips to kiss 'em, and heyes, light blue, like a Cambridge necktie. | "Высокая брюнетка, - подтвердил он, - кудри ее так и падают локонами к самым губкам, будто хотят поцеловать их, а глазки у нее небесно-голубые, совсем как галстуки у кэмбриджских школяров. |
| A 'undred and seventy-three was the number.' | Номер ее дома - сто семьдесят три, вот как". |
| "'That's right,' I said; 'my dear Smith, this is becoming complicated. You've met the lady and talked to her for half an hour--as Smythe, don't you remember?' | "Все это очень хорошо, мой дорогой Смит, -сказал я, - но вот что странно: ведь вы видели эту леди и с полчаса говорили с ней, будучи Смайтом. Разве вы этого не помните?" |
| "'No,' he said, after cogitating for a minute, 'carn't say I do; I never can remember much about Smythe. | "Нет, - ответил он, подумав, - что-то я этого не припомню. У меня просто вылетает из головы все, что случается со Смайтом. |
| He allers seems to me like a bad dream.' | Он для меня какой-то дурной сон". |
| "'Well, you met her,' I said; 'I'm positive. | "Но во всяком случае вы уже видели ее, -продолжал я настаивать. |
| I introduced you to her myself, and she confided to me afterwards that she thought you a most charming man.' | - Я сам представил вас ей, а потом она мне созналась, что вы произвели на нее самое приятное впечатление". |
| "'No--did she?' he remarked, evidently softening in his feelings towards Smythe; 'and did _I_ like '_er_?' | "Как, неужто? - воскликнул он, явно смягчаясь в отношении Смайта. - А что, мне-то она тогда понравилась?" |
| "'Well, to tell the truth,' I answered, 'I don't think you did. | "Сказать вам по правде, - ответил я, - не очень. |
| You looked intensely bored.' | Во время разговора с ней у вас был довольно-таки скучающий вид". |
| "'The Juggins,' I heard him mutter to himself, and then he said aloud: 'D'yer think I shall get a chance o' seein' 'er agen, when I'm--when I'm Smythe?' | "Вот дурак-то, - пробормотал он и затем вслух прибавил: - А как вы думаете, удастся мне увидеть ее опять, когда... ну, когда я снова обернусь Смайтом?" |
| "'Of course,' I said, 'I'll take you round myself. | "Конечно, - заверил я его, - и я сам об этом позабочусь. |
| By the bye,' I added, jumping up and looking on the mantelpiece, 'I've got a card for a Cinderella at their place--something to do with a birthday. Will you be Smythe on November the twentieth?' | Да, кстати, - прибавил я, вскакивая и подходя к каминной полке, - вот как раз приглашение к ним на вечер двадцатого ноября; они, кажется, празднуют чье-то рожденье. Будете ли вы к этому числу Смайтом?" |
| "'Ye--as,' he replied; 'oh, yas--bound to be by then.' | "А то как же, ясно, что буду, - ответил он, -обязательно буду". |
| "'Very well, then,' I said, | "Ну вот и прекрасно. |
| 'I'll call round for you at the Albany, and we'll go together.' | Я зайду за вами на Олбэни, и мы отправимся к ним вместе". |
| "He rose and stood smoothing his hat with his sleeve. | Он встал и начал чистить рукавом свою шляпу. |
| 'Fust time I've ever looked for'ard to bein' that hanimated corpse, Smythe,' he said slowly. | "Первый раз за всю свою жизнь, - медленно проговорил он, - я жду того времени, когда стану этим живым мертвецом, Смайтом. |
| 'Blowed if I don't try to 'urry it up--'pon my sivey I will.' "'He'll be no good to you till the twentieth,' I reminded him. | И черт меня побери, если я не расшевелю его как следует, чего бы мне это ни стоило; уж как он там ни крути, а расшевелю". |
| 'And,' I added, as I stood up to ring the bell, 'you're sure it's a genuine case this time. | "Он вам не понадобится раньше двадцатого, -напомнил я. |
| You won't be going back to 'Liza?' | - Кроме того, - прибавил я, вставая, чтобы позвонить, - вы уверены, что теперь это уже окончательно и что вы не вернетесь больше к Лизе?" |
| "'Oh, don't talk 'bout 'Liza in the same breath with Hedith,' he replied, 'it sounds like sacrilege.' | "Не поминайте Лизу, когда говорите о Хэдит, -возмутился он. - Нечего поганить святое имя Хэдит". |
| "He stood hesitating with the handle of the door in his hand. | Он взялся было за дверную ручку, но в раздумье остановился. |
| At last, opening it and looking very hard at his hat, he said, | Наконец, открыв дверь и упрямо глядя на свою шляпу, он прибавил: |
| ' I'm goin' to 'Arley Street now. | "Теперь я пойду на Харлей-стрит. |
| I walk up and down outside the 'ouse every evening, and sometimes, when there ain't no one lookin', I get a chance to kiss the doorstep.' | Как вечер, так я хожу под ее окнами, а иногда, когда никого нет кругом, целую порог дома". |
| "He disappeared, and I returned to my chair. | С этими словами он ушел, а я вернулся к своему креслу. |
| "On November twentieth, I called for him according to promise. | Двадцатого ноября я, как было условлено, зашел за ним на Олбэни-стрит. |
| I found him on the point of starting for the club: he had forgotten all about our appointment. | Он собирался идти в клуб: он забыл все, о чем мы говорили. |
| I reminded him of it, and he with difficulty recalled it, and consented, without any enthusiasm, to accompany me. | Я напомнил ему наше свидание, он с трудом восстановил его в памяти и согласился пойти со мной, но безо всякого восторга. |
| By a few artful hints to her mother (including a casual mention of his income), I manoeuvred matters so that he had Edith almost entirely to himself for the whole evening. | У Тревиоров, при помощи ловких намеков в разговоре с матерью Эдит, включая брошенное вскользь упоминание о доходах Смайта, мне удалось повернуть дело так, что он и Эдит могли провести вместе почти весь вечер. |
| I was proud of what I had done, and as we were walking home together I waited to receive his gratitude. | Я гордился своей удачей, и когда мы возвращались домой, ожидал, что он рассыплется в благодарностях. |
| "As it seemed slow in coming, I hinted my expectations. | Но он медлил, и тогда я позволил себе заговорить первый. |
| "'Well,' I said, 'I think I managed that very cleverly for you.' | "Ну, - начал я, - ловко я все устроил?" |
| "'Managed what very cleverly?' said he. | "Что именно устроили?" |
| "'Why, getting you and Miss Trevior left together for such a long time in the conservatory,' I answered, somewhat hurt; '_I_ fixed that for you.' | "То, что вы и мисс Тревиор так долго оставались одни в оранжерее, - ответил я, немного обиженный. - Ведь я нарочно сделал это для вас". |
| "'Oh, it was _you_, was it,' he replied; | "Так этому виной были вы! - прервал он меня. |
| ' I've been cursing Providence.' | - А я-то все время проклинал свою судьбу". |
| "I stopped dead in the middle of the pavement, and faced him. | Я остановился как вкопанный посреди улицы и посмотрел ему в лицо. |
| 'Don't you love her?' I said. | "Разве вы не любите ее?" - спросил я. |
| "'Love her!' he repeated, in the utmost astonishment; 'what on earth is there in her to love? | "Люблю? - повторил он, пораженный. - Но что в ней любить? |
| She's nothing but a bad translation of a modern French comedy, with the interest omitted.' | Мисс Тревиор - плохая копия с героини современной французской комедии, к тому же лишенная изюминки". |
| "This 'tired' me--to use an Americanism. | Это наконец надоело мне. |
| 'You came to me a month ago,' I said, 'raving over her, and talking about being the dirt under her feet and kissing her doorstep.' | "Месяц тому назад, - заявил я, - вы были у меня и говорили о ней с восторгом, мечтали быть грязью под ее ногами и сознались, что по ночам целуете порог ее дома". |
| "He turned very red. | Он густо покраснел. |
| 'I wish, my dear Mac,' he said, 'you would pay me the compliment of not mistaking me for that detestable little cad with whom I have the misfortune to be connected. | "Я просил бы вас, мой дорогой Мак, - сказал он, - быть настолько любезным, чтобы не смешивать меня с этим ничтожным хамом, к которому я, к несчастью, имею некоторое отношение. |
| You would greatly oblige me if next time he attempts to inflict upon you his vulgar drivel you would kindly kick him downstairs.' | Вы премного обяжете меня, если в следующий раз, когда он опять явится к вам со своей вульгарной болтовней, без всяких церемоний спустите его с лестницы. |
| "'No doubt,' he added, with a sneer, as we walked on, 'Miss Trevior would be his ideal. | Впрочем, - продолжал он с усмешкой, - нет ничего удивительного в том, что мисс Тревиор оказалась его идеалом. |
| She is exactly the type of woman, I should say, to charm that type of man. | Дамы этого рода должны нравиться именно таким типам. |
| For myself, I do not appreciate the artistic and literary female.' | Что касается меня, то я не люблю женщин, интересующихся искусством и литературой... |
| "'Besides,' he continued, in a deeper tone, 'you know my feelings. | Кроме того, - продолжал он более серьезным тоном, - вы ведь знаете мои чувства. |
| I shall never care for any other woman but Elizabeth.' | Для меня никогда не будет существовать никакой другой женщины, кроме Элизабет". |
| "'And she?' I said | "А она?" - спросил я. |
| "'She,' he sighed, 'is breaking her heart for Smith.' | "Она, - вздохнул он, - она безнадежно влюблена в Смита". |
| "'Why don't you tell her you are Smith?' I asked. | "Почему же вы не откроете ей, что вы и есть Смит?" - спросил я. |
| "'I cannot,' he replied, 'not even to win her. | "Я не могу, - ответил он, - я не могу этого сделать даже для того, чтобы завоевать ее сердце. |
| Besides, she would not believe me.' | Впрочем, она мне и не поверит". |
| "We said good-night at the corner of Bond Street, and I did not see him again till one afternoon late in the following March, when I ran against him in Ludgate Circus. | Мы расстались на углу Бонд-стрит, и я не видел его до конца марта, когда случайно столкнулся с ним на площади Ладгейт-сэркус. |
| He was wearing his transition blue suit and bowler hat. | Он был в своем "переходном" синем костюме и котелке. |
| I went up to him and took his arm. | Я подошел к нему и взял его под руку. |
| "'Which are you?' I said. | "Ну, кто вы сейчас?" - спросил я. |
| "'Neither, for the moment,' he replied, 'thank God. | "В данный момент, слава богу, никто, - ответил он. |
| Half an hour ago I was Smythe, half an hour hence I shall be Smith. | - Полчаса тому назад я был Смайтом, через полчаса я стану Смитом. |
| For the present half- hour I am a man.' | В настоящие же полчаса я - человек". |
| "There was a pleasant, hearty ring in his voice, and a genial, kindly light in his eyes, and he held himself like a frank gentleman. | Он говорил приятным, сердечным тоном, глаза его горели теплым, приветливым огоньком, и держал он себя как истый джентльмен. |
| "'You are certainly an improvement upon both of them,' I said. | "Сейчас вы гораздо лучше, чем любой из них!" -вырвалось у меня. |
| "He laughed a sunny laugh, with just the shadow of sadness dashed across it. | Он засмеялся веселым смехом, в котором, однако, слышался некоторый, оттенок грусти. |
| 'Do you know my idea of Heaven?' he said. | "Знаете ли вы, как я представляю себе рай?" -спросил он. |
| "'No,' I replied, somewhat surprised at the question. | "Нет", - ответил я, несколько удивленный его вопросом. |
| "'Ludgate Circus,' was the answer. | "В виде площади Ладгейт-сэркус, - ответил он. |
| 'The only really satisfying moments of my life,' he said, 'have been passed in the neighbourhood of Ludgate Circus. | - Единственные хорошие минуты моей жизни все прошли недалеко от этой площади. |
| I leave Piccadilly an unhealthy, unwholesome prig. | Когда я ухожу с Пикадилли, я - нездоровый, никчемный сноб. |
| At Charing Cross I begin to feel my blood stir in my veins. | На Черинг-кросс кровь в моих жилах начинает приходить в движение. |
| From Ludgate Circus to Cheapside I am a human thing with human feeling throbbing in my heart, and human thought throbbing in my brain--with fancies, sympathies, and hopes. | От площади Ладгейт-сэркус до Чипсайда я -настоящий человек, с настоящими человеческими чувствами в сердце и настоящими человеческими мыслями в голове, с мечтами, привязанностями и надеждами. |
| At the Bank my mind becomes a blank. As I walk on, my senses grow coarse and blunted; and by the time I reach Whitechapel I am a poor little uncivilised cad. | Около банка я начинаю все забывать; по мере того, как иду дальше, мои ощущения грубеют и притупляются, и в Уайтчепле я уже ничтожный и необразованный хам. |
| On the return journey it is the same thing reversed.' | Когда я возвращаюсь назад, то все это повторяется в обратном порядке". |
| "'Why not live in Ludgate Circus,' I said, 'and be always as you are now?' | "Почему бы вам не поселиться тогда на Ладгейт-саркус и не быть всегда таким, как сейчас?" - спросил я. |
| "'Because,' he answered, 'man is a pendulum, and must travel his arc.' | "Потому что, - объяснил он, - человек - это маятник, и он должен проделать весь предназначенный ему путь". |
| "'My dear Mac,' said he, laying his hand upon my shoulder, 'there is only one good thing about me, and that is a moral. | "Мой дорогой Мак, - продолжал он, положив руку мне на плечо, - в моей судьбе хорошо только то, что из нее можно вывести мораль: человек всегда остается таким, каким он создан. |
| Man is as God made him: don't be so sure that you can take him to pieces and improve him. | Не воображайте, что вы можете разбирать его на части и улучшать по своему разумению. |
| All my life I have sought to make myself an unnaturally superior person. | Всю свою жизнь я противоестественно стремился сделать себя высшей личностью. |
| Nature has retaliated by making me also an unnaturally inferior person. | Природа отплатила мне тем, что одновременно сделала меня противоестественно низкой личностью. |
| Nature abhors lopsidedness. | Природа ненавидит однобокость. |
| She turns out man as a whole, to be developed as a whole. | Она создает человека как единую личность, и он должен развиваться как нерушимое целое. |
| I always wonder, whenever I come across a supernaturally pious, a supernaturally moral, a supernaturally cultured person, if they also have a reverse self.' | Когда я встречаю чересчур благочестивого, чересчур добродетельного или чересчур умного человека, то всегда думаю: а не таят ли они в себе свою собственную скрытую противоположность?" |
| "I was shocked at his suggested argument, and walked by his side for a while without speaking. | Такая мысль совершенно сразила меня, и некоторое время я шел рядом с ним молча. |
| At last, feeling curious on the subject, I asked him how his various love affairs were progressing. | Наконец, подстрекаемый любопытством, я спросил, как идут его любовные дела. |
| "'Oh, as usual,' he replied; 'in and out of a _cul de sac_. | "О, как обычно, - отозвался он, - я попадаю то в один, то в другой тупик. |
| When I am Smythe I love Eliza, and Eliza loathes me. | Когда я Смайт, то люблю Элизу, а Элиза не хочет меня. |
| When I am Smith I love Edith, and the mere sight of me makes her shudder. | Когда я Смит, то люблю Эдит, которая содрогается от одного моего вида. |
| It is as unfortunate for them as for me. | Это одинаково грустно и для них и для меня. |
| I am not saying it boastfully. | Я говорю так не из хвастовства. |
| Heaven knows it is an added draught of misery in my cup; but it is a fact that Eliza is literally pining away for me as Smith, and--as Smith I find it impossible to be even civil to her; while Edith, poor girl, has been foolish enough to set her heart on me as Smythe, and as Smythe she seems to me but the skin of a woman stuffed with the husks of learning, and rags torn from the corpse of wit.' | Видит бог, что обе эти девушки - лишняя капля горечи в моей чаше; но Элиза на самом деле буквально изнывает от любви к Смиту, а я, бывая Смитом, не могу заставить себя относиться к ней хотя бы вежливо. Тогда как Эдит, бедная девушка, была настолько неосторожна, что отдала свое сердце Смайту, а когда я Смайт, то вижу в ней только оболочку женщины, набитую шелухой учености и обрывками чужого остроумия". |
| "I remained absorbed in my own thoughts for some time, and did not come out of them till we were crossing the Minories. Then, the idea suddenly occurring to me, I said: | Я шел некоторое время, погруженный в свои собственные думы, но когда мы стали пересекать улицу Майнорис, меня внезапно осенила еще одна мысль и я сказал: |
| "'Why don't you get a new girl altogether? | "А почему бы вам не поискать какой-нибудь третьей девушки? |
| There must be medium girls that both Smith and Smythe could like, and that would put up with both of you.' | Ведь должна же быть какая-то средняя девушка, которая нравилась бы и Смайту и Смиту и которая ладила бы с обоими?" |
| "'No more girls for this child,' he answered 'they're more trouble than they're worth. | "Ну, с меня хватит и этих двух, - ответил он. -Свяжешься с ними, а от них тебе одни заботы и никакого удовольствия. |
| Those yer want yer carn't get, and those yer can 'ave, yer don't want.' | Та, что тебе нравится, - держи карман, так ты ее и получишь! А та, что сама лезет, кому она нужна!" |
| "I started, and looked up at him. | Я вздрогнул и поднял на него глаза. |
| He was slouching along with his hands in his pockets, and a vacuous look in his face. | Он шел неуклюжей походкой, засунув руки в карманы, с бессмысленным взглядом на тупом лице. |
| "A sudden repulsion seized me. | Меня охватило отвращение. |
| 'I must go now,' I said, stopping. 'I'd no idea I had come so far.' | "Ну, мне пора, - сказал я, останавливаясь, - я не предполагал, что зашел так далеко". |
| "He seemed as glad to be rid of me as I to be rid of him. | Казалось, он был так же рад избавиться от меня, как я от него. |
| ' Oh, must yer,' he said, holding out his hand. | "Да? - сказал он, протягивая мне руку. |
| 'Well, so long.' | - Ну, до скорого!" |
| "We shook hands carelessly. He disappeared in the crowd, and that is the last I have ever seen of him." | Мы небрежно попрощались, он исчез в толпе, и больше я с ним не встречался. |
| "Is that a true story?" asked Jephson. | - И все это было на самом деле? - спросил Джефсон. |
| "Well, I've altered the names and dates," said MacShaughnassy; "but the main facts you can rely upon." | - Я изменил имена и даты, - ответил Мак-Шонесси, - но уверяю вас, что самые факты взяты из жизни. |
| CHAPTER X | ГЛАВА X |
| The final question discussed at our last meeting been: What shall our hero be? MacShaughnassy had suggested an author, with a critic for the villain. | На прошлом собрании мы обсуждали вопрос, кем будет наш герой. Мак-Шонесси хотел сделать его писателем, с тем чтобы в роли злодея выступал критик. |
| My idea was a stockbroker, with an undercurrent of romance in his nature. | Я предложил биржевого маклера с некоторой склонностью к романтизму. |
| Said Jephson, who has a practical mind: | Джефсон, у которого был практический ум, заявил: |
| "The question is not what we like, but what the female novel-reader likes." | - Дело не в том, какие герои нравятся нам, а какие герои нравятся женщинам, читающим романы. |
| "That is so," agreed MacShaughnassy. | - Вот это правильно, - согласился Мак-Шонесси. |
| "I propose that we collect feminine opinion upon this point. | - Давайте соберем по этому поводу мнения различных женщин. |
| I will write to my aunt and obtain from her the old lady's view. | Я напишу своей тетке и узнаю от нее точку зрения престарелой леди. |
| You," he said, turning to me, "can put the case to your wife, and get the young lady's ideal. | Вы, - обернулся он ко мне, - расскажите, в чем дело, вашей жене и выясните, каков идеал современной молодой дамы. |
| Let Brown write to his sister at Newnham, and find out whom the intellectual maiden favours, while Jephson can learn from Miss Medbury what is most attractive to the common-sensed girl." | Браун пускай напишет своей сестре в Ньюхэм и узнает настроение передовой образованной особы, а Джефсон может спросить у мисс Медбэри, какие мужчины нравятся обыкновенным здравомыслящим девушкам. |
| This plan we had adopted, and the result was now under consideration. MacShaughnassy opened the proceedings by reading his aunt's letter. | Так мы и сделали, и теперь нам оставалось только рассмотреть полученные результаты. Мак-Шонесси Начал с того, что вскрыл письмо своей тетки. |
| Wrote the old lady: | Старая леди писала: |
| "I think, if I were you, my dear boy, I should choose a soldier. | "Мне кажется, мой дорогой мальчик, что на вашем месте я выбрала бы военного. |
| You know your poor grandfather, who ran away to America with that _wicked_ Mrs. Featherly, the banker's wife, was a soldier, and so was your poor cousin Robert, who lost eight thousand pounds at Monte Carlo. | Твой бедный дедушка, который убежал в Америку с этой _ужасной миссис Безерли, женой банкира, был военным, и твой кузен Роберт, тот самый, который проиграл в Монте-Карло восемь тысяч фунтов, был тоже военным. |
| I have always felt singularly drawn towards soldiers, even as a girl; though your poor dear uncle could not bear them. | Меня с самой ранней юности всегда привлекали военные, хотя твой дорогой дядя их совершенно не переносил. |
| You will find many allusions to soldiers and men of war in the Old Testament (see Jer. xlviii. 14). | Кроме того, о воинах много говорится в Ветхом завете (например, в книге пророка Иеремии, глава XLVIII, стих 14). |
| Of course one does not like to think of their fighting and killing each other, but then they do not seem to do that sort of thing nowadays." | Конечно, нехорошо, что они все время дерутся и убивают друг друга, но ведь в наши дни они, кажется, этого больше не делают". |
| "So much for the old lady," said MacShaughnassy, as he folded up the letter and returned it to his pocket. | - Таково мнение старой леди, - сказал Мак-Шонесси, складывая письмо и пряча его в карман. |
| "What says culture?" | - Посмотрим, что скажет современная образованная особа. |
| Brown produced from his cigar-case a letter addressed in a bold round hand, and read as follows: | Браун достал из своего портсигара письмо, написанное уверенным, округлым почерком, и прочел следующее: |
| "What a curious coincidence! | "Какое удивительное совпадение! |
| A few of us were discussing this very subject last night in Millicent Hightopper's rooms, and I may tell you at once that our decision was unanimous in favour of soldiers. | Как раз вчера вечером, у Милисент Хайтопер, мы обсуждали тот же самый вопрос и вынесли единогласное решение в пользу военных. |
| You see, my dear Selkirk, in human nature the attraction is towards the opposite. | Видишь ли, мой милый Селкирк, человеческую природу всегда влечет к себе противоположное. |
| To a milliner's apprentice a poet would no doubt be satisfying; to a woman of intelligence he would he an unutterable bore. | Поэт пленил бы юную модисточку, но для мыслящей женщины он был бы невыразимо скучен. |
| What the intellectual woman requires in man is not something to argue with, but something to look at. | Образованной девушке мужчина нужен не для того, чтобы рассуждать с ним на высокие темы, а для того, чтобы любоваться им. |
| To an empty-headed woman I can imagine the soldier type proving vapid and uninteresting; to the woman of mind he represents her ideal of man--a creature strong, handsome, well-dressed, and not too clever." | Я уверена, что дурочка нашла бы военного скучным и неинтересным, но для мыслящей женщины военный - это идеал мужчины, существо сильное, красивое, одетое в блестящую форму и не слишком умное". |
| "That gives us two votes for the army," remarked MacShaughnassy, as Brown tore his sister's letter in two, and threw the pieces into the waste-paper basket. "What says the common-sensed girl?" | Браун порвал письмо и бросил клочки его в корзину для бумаг. - Итак, вот уже два голоса в пользу армии, - заявил Мак-Шонесси, -послушаем теперь здравомыслящую девушку. |
| "First catch your common-sensed girl," muttered Jephson, a little grumpily, as it seemed to me. "Where do you propose finding her?" | - Сначала нужно еще найти эту здравомыслящую девушку, - буркнул Джефсон довольно унылым, как мне показалось, тоном, - а это не так-то легко. |
| "Well," returned MacShaughnassy, "I looked to find her in Miss Medbury." | - Как? - удивился Мак-Шонесси. - А мисс Медбэри? |
| As a rule, the mention of Miss Medbury's name brings a flush of joy to Jephson's face; but now his features wore an expression distinctly approaching a scowl. | Обычно при упоминании этого имени на лице Джефсона появлялась счастливая улыбка, но сейчас оно приняло скорее сердитое выражение. |
| "Oh!" he replied, "did you? | - Вы так полагаете? - произнес он. |
| Well, then, the common-sensed girl loves the military also." | - Ну, в таком случае здравомыслящая девушка тоже любит военных. |
| "By Jove!" exclaimed MacShaughnassy, "what an extraordinary thing. | - Ах ты, черт побери! - вырвалось у Мак-Шонесси. - Вот так штука! |
| What reason does she give?" | А как она это объясняет? |
| "That there's a something about them, and that they dance so divinely," answered Jephson, shortly. | - Она говорит, что в военных есть что-то особенное и что они божественно танцуют, -сухо заметил Джефсон. |
| "Well, you do surprise me," murmured MacShaughnassy, "I am astonished." | - Вы удивляете меня, - пробормотал Мак-Шонесси, - я просто поражен. |
| Then to me he said: "And what does the young married woman say? | - А что говорит молодая замужняя леди? -обратился он ко мне. |
| The same?" | - То же самое? |
| "Yes," I replied, "precisely the same." | - Да, - отвечал я, - совершенно то же самое. |
| "Does _she_ give a reason?" he asked. | - А объяснила она вам, почему? - продолжал допытываться Мак-Шонесси. |
| "Oh yes," I explained; "because you can't help liking them." | - По ее мнению, военные просто не могут не нравиться, - сообщил я. |
| There was silence for the next few minutes, while we smoked and thought. | После этого мы некоторое время сидели молча, вздыхали и курили. |
| I fancy we were all wishing we had never started this inquiry. | "И зачем только мы затеяли этот опрос?" -казалось, думал каждый. |
| That four distinctly different types of educated womanhood should, with promptness and unanimity quite unfeminine, have selected the soldier as their ideal, was certainly discouraging to the civilian heart. | То, что четыре совершенно различные по своему характеру образованные женщины, так не по-женски быстро и единодушно выбрали своим идеалом военных, было, конечно, не особенно лестно для четырех штатских. |
| Had they been nursemaids or servant girls, I should have expected it. | Если бы дело шло о няньках или горничных, ну тогда это еще можно было бы понять. |
| The worship of Mars by the Venus of the white cap is one of the few vital religions left to this devoutless age. | Венера с белым чепчиком на голове все еще продолжает преклоняться перед Марсом, и это одно из последних проявлений религиозного чувства в наше безбожное время. |
| A year or two ago I lodged near a barracks, and the sight to be seen round its huge iron gates on Sunday afternoons I shall never forget. | Год тому назад я жил рядом с казармами и никогда не забуду, что делалось перед их широкими чугунными воротами по воскресеньям после полудня. |
| The girls began to assemble about twelve o'clock. | Около двенадцати часов здесь уже начинали собираться девушки. |
| By two, at which hour the army, with its hair nicely oiled and a cane in its hand, was ready for a stroll, there would be some four or five hundred of them waiting in a line. | К двум часам, когда воины с напомаженными головами и тросточкой в руке готовы были к прогулке, их ожидал длинный ряд из четырех или пяти сот женщин. |
| Formerly they had collected in a wild mob, and as the soldiers were let out to them two at a time, had fought for them, as lions for early Christians. | Прежде они толпились в хаотическом беспорядке, и когда солдаты выходили по двое из ворот, женщины бросались на них, как львы на христианских мучеников. |
| This, however, had led to scenes of such disorder and brutality, that the police had been obliged to interfere; and the girls were now marshalled in _queue_, two abreast, and compelled, by a force of constables specially told off for the purpose, to keep their places and wait their proper turn. | Это приводило, однако, к таким грубым сценам, что полиция вынуждена была вмешаться, и девушки стали выстраиваться "в очередь", попарно, а специально наряженный для этой цели отряд констеблей следил за тем, чтобы они стояли на местах и ждали своей очереди. |
| At three o'clock the sentry on duty would come down to the wicket and close it. | В три часа часовой выходил и закрывал калитку. |
| "They're all gone, my dears," he would shout out to the girls still left; "it's no good your stopping, we've no more for you to-day." | "Все уже вышли, мои милочки, - кричал он оставшимся девушкам, - нечего вам больше здесь делать! Сегодня у нас больше нет для вас парней". |
| "Oh, not one!" some poor child would murmur pleadingly, while the tears welled up into her big round eyes, "not even a little one. | "Как, ни одного больше? - начинала умолять какая-нибудь бедная малютка, и ее большие круглые глава наливались слезами. - Ни одного, хотя бы самого маленького? |
| I've been waiting _such_ a long time." | А я так долго ждала!" |
| "Can't help that," the honest fellow would reply, gruffly, but not unkindly, turning aside to hide his emotion; "you've had 'em all between you. | "Ничего не поделаешь, - отвечал часовой грубовато, но добродушно и отворачивался, чтобы скрыть свои собственные чувства. |
| We don't make 'em, you know: you can't have 'em if we haven't got 'em, can you? | - Вы, милочки, уже получили все, что вам причиталось. У нас ведь не фабрика солдат. На сегодня у нас больше нет, значит и получать нечего, это ясно само собой. |
| Come earlier next time." | Приходите в следующий раз пораньше". |
| Then he would hurry away to escape further importunity; and the police, who appeared to have been waiting for this moment with gloating anticipation, would jeeringly hustle away the weeping remnant. | Затем он спешил уйти, чтобы избежать дальнейших неприятностей, а полиция, которая как будто только и ждала этой минуты, с насмешками начинала разгонять остатки плачущих женщин. |
| "Now then, pass along, you girls, pass along," they would say, in that irritatingly unsympathetic voice of theirs. | "Эй вы там, ну-ка пошевеливайтесь; расходитесь, девушки, расходитесь, - говорили констебли своими раздражающе несимпатичными голосами. |
| "You've had your chance. | - Прозевали вы на этот раз свое счастье! |
| Can't have the roadway blocked up all the afternoon with this 'ere demonstration of the unloved. | Нельзя же полдня загораживать улицу. Что это еще за демонстрация девушек, не нашедших для себя парней! |
| Pass along." | А ну, расходитесь!" |
| In connection with this same barracks, our char-woman told Amenda, who told Ethelbertha, who told me a story, which I now told the boys. | В связи с этими же казармами наша поденщица рассказала Аменде, Аменда - Этельберте, а эта последняя - мне, интересную историю, которую я теперь повторил своим товарищам. |
| Into a certain house, in a certain street in the neighbourhood, there moved one day a certain family. | В некий дом, на некой улице, поблизости от этих самых казарм, переехала в один прекрасный день некая семья. |
| Their servant had left them--most of their servants did at the end of a week--and the day after the moving-in an advertisement for a domestic was drawn up and sent to the _Chronicle_. It ran thus: | Незадолго до того у них ушла прислуга - почти все их слуги уходили от них в конце первой же недели, - и на следующий день после переезда они составили и послали в "Хронику" следующее объявление: |
| WANTED, GENERAL SERVANT, in small family of eleven. | "Нужна прислуга в небольшую семью из одиннадцати человек. |
| Wages, 6 pounds; no beer money. | Жалованье - 6 фунтов. Пива не полагается. |
| Must be early riser and hard worker. | Желательна привычка рано вставать и умение много работать. |
| Washing done at home. | Стирка на дому. |
| Must be good cook, and not object to window-cleaning. | Должна хорошо стряпать и не отказываться мыть окна. |
| Unitarian preferred.--Apply, with references, to A. B., etc. | Предпочтительна принадлежность к унитарианской церкви. Рекомендация обязательна. Обращаться к А.Б. ... и т.д.". |
| That advertisement was sent off on Wednesday afternoon. At seven o'clock on Thursday morning the whole family were awakened by continuous ringing of the street-door bell. | Это объявление было послано в среду после обеда, а в четверг в семь часов утра вся семья проснулась от непрекращающихся звонков с парадного хода. |
| The husband, looking out of window, was surprised to see a crowd of about fifty girls surrounding the house. | Муж выглянул в окно и с изумлением увидел толпу примерно из пятидесяти девушек, окруживших дом. |
| He slipped on his dressing-gown and went down to see what was the matter. The moment he opened the door, fifteen of them charged tumultuously into the passage, sweeping him completely off his legs. | Он набросил халат и спустился вниз, чтобы узнать, в чем дело, но не успел он открыть дверь, как десятка полтора девушек ворвались в дом с такой силой, что сбили его с ног. |
| Once inside, these fifteen faced round, fought the other thirty-five or so back on to the doorstep, and slammed the door in their faces. | Очутившись в прихожей, девушки быстро повернулись снова лицом к выходу, вытолкали остальных тридцать пять, или сколько их там было, назад на ступеньки и захлопнули дверь перед самым их носом. |
| Then they picked up the master of the house, and asked him politely to conduct them to "A. B." | Потом они подняли хозяина на ноги и вежливо попросили провести их к А.Б. |
| At first, owing to the clamour of the mob outside, who were hammering at the door and shouting curses through the keyhole, he could understand nothing, but at length they succeeded in explaining to him that they were domestic servants come ill answer to his wife's advertisement. | Сначала из-за криков оставшихся на улице женщин, которые стучали кулаками в дверь и выкрикивали ругательства в замочную скважину, он ничего не мог разобрать. Но в конце концов он понял, что это прислуги, явившиеся по объявлению его жены. |
| The man went and told his wife, and his wife said she would see them, one at a time. | Тогда он пошел наверх, рассказал обо всем жене, и та решила поговорить по очереди с каждой из девушек. |
| Which one should have audience first was a delicate question to decide. | Чрезвычайно сложным оказался вопрос, которая будет первой. |
| The man, on being appealed to, said he would prefer to leave it to them. They accordingly discussed the matter among themselves. | Девушки обратились было к хозяину, но тот отвечал, что предоставляет решить это им самим, и они принялись своими силами улаживать дело. |
| At the end of a quarter of an hour, the victor, having borrowed some hair-pins and a looking-glass from our char-woman, who had slept in the house, went upstairs, while the remaining fourteen sat down in the hall, and fanned themselves with their bonnets. | Через четверть часа победительница, предварительно заняв у нашей поденщицы, которая ночевала в доме, несколько шпилек и зеркальце, поднялась наверх, в то время как остальные четырнадцать уселись в прихожей и стали обмахиваться своими чепчиками. |
| "A. B." was a good deal astonished when the first applicant presented herself. | А.Б. была очень удивлена, когда перед ней предстала первая прислуга. |
| She was a tall, genteel-looking girl. | Это была высокая, изящная и весьма приличная на вид девушка. |
| Up to yesterday she had been head housemaid at Lady Stanton's, and before that she had been undercook for two years to the Duchess of York. | До вчерашнего дня она служила старшей горничной у леди Стэнтон, а до того в течение двух лет была младшей кухаркой у герцогини Йорк. |
| "And why did you leave Lady Stanton?" asked "A. B." | "Почему же вы ушли от леди Стэнтон?" -спросила А.Б. |
| "To come here, mum," replied the girl. | "Чтобы поступить к вам, мэм", - отвечала девушка. |
| The lady was puzzled. | Хозяйка изумилась. |
| "And you'll be satisfied with six pounds a year?" she asked. | "И вы удовольствуетесь шестью фунтами в год?" -спросила она. |
| "Certainly, mum, I think it ample." | "Конечно, мэм, я считаю, что этого вполне достаточно". |
| "And you don't mind hard work?" | "И вы не боитесь тяжелой работы?" |
| "I love it, mum." | "Я люблю ее, мэм". |
| "And you're an early riser?" | "А привыкли вы рано вставать?" |
| "Oh yes, mum, it upsets me stopping in bed after half-past five." | "О да, мэм, я просто не в силах заставить себя спать после половины пятого". |
| "You know we do the washing at home?" | "Вам известно, что мы стираем дома?" |
| "Yes, mum. I think it so much better to do it at home. | "О да, мэм, я считаю, что гораздо лучше стирать дома. |
| Those laundries ruin good clothes. | В этих прачечных только портят хорошее белье. |
| They're so careless." | Там стирают так небрежно". |
| "Are you a Unitarian?" continued the lady. | "Принадлежите ли вы к унитарианской церкви?" |
| "Not yet, mum," replied the girl, "but I should like to be one." | "Нет еще, мэм, но я хотела бы присоединиться к ней". |
| The lady took her reference, and said she would write. | Хозяйка просмотрела рекомендации и сказала девушке, что напишет ей. |
| The next applicant offered to come for three pounds--thought six pounds too much. | Следующая претендентка объявила, что будет служить за три фунта, так как шесть - это слишком много. |
| She expressed her willingness to sleep in the back kitchen: a shakedown under the sink was all she wanted. | Она согласна спать на кухне. Тюфяк, брошенный на пол где-нибудь под раковиной, -вот все, что ей нужно. |
| She likewise had yearnings towards Unitarianism. | Она добавила, что ее также влечет к унитарианской церкви. |
| The third girl did not require any wages at all--could not understand what servants wanted with wages--thought wages only encouraged a love of foolish finery--thought a comfortable home in a Unitarian family ought to be sufficient wages for any girl. | Третья девушка не требовала никакого жалованья. Она не могла понять, для чего прислуге вообще нужны деньги, они ведут только к нездоровому увлечению нарядами. |
| This girl said there was one stipulation she should like to make, and that was that she should be allowed to pay for all breakages caused by her own carelessness or neglect. | Жизнь в добродетельной унитарианской семье должна быть для честной девушки дороже всякой платы. Она просила только об одном: чтобы ей позволили платить за все вещи, разбитые ею по неловкости или небрежности. |
| She objected to holidays and evenings out; she held that they distracted a girl from her work. | Ей не нужно свободных дней и вечеров, так как это только отвлекает от работы. |
| The fourth candidate offered a premium of five pounds for the place; and then | Четвертая кандидатка предложила за место премию в пять фунтов. |
| "A. B." began to get frightened, and refused to see any more of the girls, convinced that they must be lunatics from some neighbouring asylum out for a walk. | Тут А.Б. стало просто страшно. Она решила, что это, должно быть, больные из соседнего сумасшедшего дома, которых выпустили на прогулку, и отказалась разговаривать с остальными девушками. |
| Later in the day, meeting the next-door lady on the doorstep, she related her morning's experiences. | В тот же день после обеда, увидев на крыльце хозяйку соседнего дома, она рассказала ей о том, что произошло утром. |
| "Oh, that's nothing extraordinary," said the next-door lady; "none of us on this side of the street pay wages; and we get the pick of all the best servants in London. | "О, в этом нет ничего удивительного, - успокоила ее соседка. - Никто из нас, живущих по эту сторону улицы, не платит прислуге жалованья, а вместе с тем у нас лучшие служанки во всем Лондоне. |
| Why, girls will come from the other end of the kingdom to get into one of these houses. | Чтобы поступить в один из этих домов, девушки съезжаются со всех концов королевства. |
| It's the dream of their lives. | Это их заветная мечта. |
| They save up for years, so as to be able to come here for nothing." | Они годами копят деньги, чтобы наняться потом здесь без жалованья". |
| "What's the attraction?" asked "A. B.," more amazed than ever. | "Но что же их сюда влечет?" - спросила А.Б., удивляясь все больше и больше. |
| "Why, don't you see," explained the next door lady, "our back windows open upon the barrack yard. | "Как, разве вы не видите? - продолжала соседка. - Ведь окна наших кухонь выходят как раз на двор казармы. |
| A girl living in one of these houses is always close to soldiers. | Девушка, живущая в одном из этих домов, будет всегда поблизости от солдат. |
| By looking out of window she can always see soldiers; and sometimes a soldier will nod to her or even call up to her. | Достаточно ей выглянуть из окна, чтобы увидеть солдата, а иногда он кивнет ей или даже окликнет. |
| They never dream of asking for wages. | Здесь девушки и не мечтают о жалованье. |
| They'll work eighteen hours a day, and put up with anything just to be allowed to stop." | Они готовы работать по восемнадцать часов в сутки и идут на любые условия, лишь бы согласились их держать". |
| "A. B." profited by this information, and engaged the girl who offered the five pounds premium. | А.Б. учла это обстоятельство и взяла девушку, которая предлагала пять фунтов премии. |
| She found her a perfect treasure of a servant. She was invariably willing and respectful, slept on a sofa in the kitchen, and was always contented with an egg for her dinner. | Она оказалась сокровищем, а не служанкой, всегда была неизменно почтительна и готова к любой работе, спала в кухне, а на обед довольствовалась одним яйцом. |
| The truth of this story I cannot vouch for. Myself, I can believe it. | Я не ручаюсь, что все, рассказанное здесь, истина, хотя сам думаю, что да. |
| Brown and MacShaughnassy made no attempt to do so, which seemed unfriendly. Jephson excused himself on the plea of a headache. | Браун и Мак-Шонесси придерживались другого мнения, и это было с их стороны не совсем по-товарищески, а Джефсон молчал под предлогом головной боли. |
| I admit there are points in it presenting difficulties to the average intellect. | Я согласен, что в этой истории есть места, с которыми трудно согласиться человеку со средними умственными способностями. |
| As I explained at the commencement, it was told to me by Ethelbertha, who had it from Amenda, who got it from the char-woman, and exaggerations may have crept into it. | Как я уже говорил, мне рассказала ее Этельберта, ей - Аменда, а той - поденщица, и в рассказ, конечно, могли вкрасться преувеличения. |
| The following, however, were incidents that came under my own personal observation. They afforded a still stronger example of the influence exercised by Tommy Atkins upon the British domestic, and I therefore thought it right to relate them. | Но следующую историю я наблюдал своими собственными глазами, и так как она является еще более ярким примером того, какую власть приобрел Томми Аткинс над сердцами британских служанок, то я решил рассказать ее товарищам. |
| "The heroine of them," I said, "is our Amenda. Now, you would call her a tolerably well-behaved, orderly young woman, would you not?" | - В данном случае героиней является, - начал я, -наша собственная Аменда, а вы ее, конечно, считаете вполне порядочной и добродетельной молодой особой? |
| "She is my ideal of unostentatious respectability," answered MacShaughnassy. | - Ваша Аменда, по-моему, образец скромности и благопристойности, - подтвердил Мак-Шонесси. |
| "That was my opinion also," I replied. | - Таково было и мое мнение, - продолжал я. |
| "You can, therefore, imagine my feelings on passing her one evening in the Folkestone High Street with a Panama hat upon her head (_my_ Panama hat), and a soldier's arm round her waist. | - Поэтому вы можете себе представить, что я почувствовал, когда однажды вечером на Фолькстон-стрит встретил ее в панаме (в моей панаме) и в обществе солдата, который обнимал ее за талию. |
| She was one of a mob following the band of the Third Berkshire Infantry, then in camp at Sandgate. | Вместе с толпой зевак они шли за оркестром третьего Беркширского пехотного полка, который был расквартирован тогда в Сендгэйте. |
| There was an ecstatic, far-away look in her eyes. She was dancing rather than walking, and with her left hand she beat time to the music. | Взгляд у Аменды был восторженный и какой-то отсутствующий, она скорее приплясывала, чем шла, и левой рукой отбивала такт. |
| "Ethelbertha was with me at the time. We stared after the procession until it had turned the corner, and then we stared at each other. | Мы с Этельбертой смотрели вслед этой процессии, пока она не скрылась из вида, а потом взглянули друг на друга. |
| "'Oh, it's impossible,' said Ethelbertha to me. | "Но ведь это невозможно!" - сказала Этельберта мне. |
| "'But that was my hat,' I said to Ethelbertha. | "Но ведь это - моя шляпа", - сказал я Этельберте. |
| "The moment we reached home Ethelbertha looked for Amenda, and I looked for my hat. | Как только мы пришли домой, Этельберта бросилась искать Аменду, а я свою панаму. |
| Neither was to be found. | Ни той, ни другой не оказалось на месте. |
| "Nine o'clock struck, ten o'clock struck. | Пробило девять часов, потом десять. |
| At half-past ten, we went down and got our own supper, and had it in the kitchen. | В половине одиннадцатого мы спустились вниз, сами приготовили себе ужин и тут же на кухне поужинали. |
| At a quarter-past eleven, Amenda returned. | В четверть двенадцатого Аменда вернулась. |
| She walked into the kitchen without a word, hung my hat up behind the door, and commenced clearing away the supper things. | Она молча вошла на кухню, повесила мою шляпу за дверью и принялась убирать со стола. |
| "Ethelbertha rose, calm but severe. | Этельберта встала со спокойным, но строгим видом. |
| "'Where have you been, Amenda?' she inquired. | "Где вы были, Аменда?" - спросила она. |
| "'Gadding half over the county with a lot of low soldiers,' answered Amenda, continuing her work. | "Шаталась, как последняя дура, с этими несчастными солдатами", - отвечала Аменда, продолжая свое дело. |
| "'You had on my hat,' I added. | "На вас была моя шляпа", - прибавил я. |
| "'Yes, sir,' replied Amenda, still continuing her work, 'it was the first thing that came to hand. What I'm thankful for is that it wasn't missis's best bonnet.' | "Да, сэр, - отвечала Аменда, не переставая убирать посуду, - хорошо еще, что под руку мне не попалась лучшая шляпка миссис". |
| "Whether Ethelbertha was mollified by the proper spirit displayed in this last remark, I cannot say, but I think it probable. At all events, it was in a voice more of sorrow than of anger that she resumed her examination. | Не могу сказать наверное, но думаю, что Этельберту тронул глубокий смысл этих слов, так как дальнейшие расспросы она продолжала не столько строгим, сколько печальным тоном. |
| "'You were walking with a soldier's arm around your waist when we passed you, Amenda?' she observed interrogatively. | "Мы видели, как какой-то солдат обнимал вас за талию, Аменда", - сказала она. |
| "'I know, mum,' admitted Amenda, 'I found it there myself when the music stopped.' | "Да, мэм, - подтвердила Аменда, - я сама обнаружила это, когда музыка кончилась". |
| "Ethelbertha looked her inquiries. | Этельберта молчала, но глаза ее сохраняли вопросительное выражение. |
| Amenda filled a saucepan with water, and then replied to them. | Аменда сначала налила в кастрюльку воды, а потом сказала: |
| "'I'm a disgrace to a decent household,' she said; 'no mistress who respected herself would keep me a moment. | "Знаю, что я - позор для приличного дома. Ни одна уважающая себя хозяйка не стала бы держать меня ни одной минуты. |
| I ought to be put on the doorstep with my box and a month's wages.' | Меня следует просто выставить за дверь вместе с моим сундучком и месячным жалованьем". |
| "'But why did you do it then?' said Ethelbertha, with natural astonishment. | "Но почему же тогда вы так поступаете?" - вполне естественно удивилась Этельберта. |
| "'Because I'm a helpless ninny, mum. | "Потому, что я безвольная дура, мэм. |
| I can't help myself; if I see soldiers I'm bound to follow them. It runs in our family. | Я ничего не могу с собой поделать. Стоит мне увидеть солдат, как я должна обязательно увязаться за ними, это у меня в крови. |
| My poor cousin Emma was just such another fool. | Моя бедная двоюродная сестра Эмма была такая же глупенькая. |
| She was engaged to be married to a quiet, respectable young fellow with a shop of his own, and three days before the wedding she ran off with a regiment of marines to Chatham and married the colour-sergeant. | На ней хотел жениться скромный и порядочный молодой человек, владелец мелочной лавочки, а за три дня до свадьбы она убежала с полком морской пехоты в Чэтэм и стала женой сержанта, полкового знаменосца. |
| That's what I shall end by doing. | В конце концов и я, очевидно, кончу тем же. |
| I've been all the way to Sandgate with that lot you saw me with, and I've kissed four of them--the nasty wretches. | Ведь с солдатами, которых вы видели, я дошла до самого Сендгэйта, и четверых из этих мерзких негодников я поцеловала! |
| I'm a nice sort of girl to be walking out with a respectable milkman.' | Ну как смогу я после этого проводить время с молочником, ведь он такой порядочный!" |
| "She was so deeply disgusted with herself that it seemed superfluous for anybody else to be indignant with her; and Ethelbertha changed her tone and tried to comfort her. | Она говорила о себе с таким отвращением, что было бы жестоко продолжать на нее сердиться, и поэтому Этельберта изменила тон и принялась утешать ее. |
| "'Oh, you'll get over all that nonsense, Amenda,' she said, laughingly; 'you see yourself how silly it is. | "Ну, Аменда, все это пройдет, - сказала она со смехом, - вы же сами видите, какой это вздор. |
| You must tell Mr. Bowles to keep you away from soldiers.' | Вы должны попросить мистера Баулса, чтобы он не подпускал вас близко к солдатам". |
| "'Ah, I can't look at it in the same light way that you do, mum,' returned Amenda, somewhat reprovingly; 'a girl that can't see a bit of red marching down the street without wanting to rush out and follow it ain't fit to be anybody's wife. | "Нет, я не могу смотреть на это так легко, как вы, мэм. Девушка, которая не в силах спокойно глядеть на мелькнувший на улице красный мундир без того, чтобы не выскочить из дома и не бежать за ним следом, разве такая девушка годится кому-нибудь в жены? |
| Why, I should be leaving the shop with nobody in it about twice a week, and he'd have to go the round of all the barracks in London, looking for me. | Да я дважды в неделю буду убегать и оставлять лавку без присмотра, а мужу придется разыскивать меня по всем казармам Лондона. |
| I shall save up and get myself into a lunatic asylum, that's what I shall do.' | Я вот накоплю денег и попрошу, чтобы меня взяли в приют для умалишенных, вот что я сделаю". |
| "Ethelbertha began to grow quite troubled. | Этельберта продолжала удивляться. |
| 'But surely this is something altogether new, Amenda,' she said; 'you must have often met soldiers when you've been out in London?' | "Но ведь этого не было раньше, Аменда, - сказала она, - хотя вы часто встречали солдат в Лондоне?" |
| "'Oh yes, one or two at a time, walking about anyhow, I can stand that all right. It's when there's a lot of them with a band that I lose my head.' | "О да, мэм, когда я вижу только одного или двух, и каждый спешит по своему делу, то я могу это выдержать, но когда их много, а с ними еще идет оркестр, тогда я теряю голову". |
| "'You don't know what it's like, mum,' she added, noticing Ethelbertha's puzzled expression; 'you've never had it. I only hope you never may.' | "Вы не знаете, каково это, мэм, - прибавила она, видя, как поражена Этельберта, - вы никогда этого не переживали, и не дай бог, чтобы это когда-нибудь с вами случилось". |
| "We kept a careful watch over Amenda during the remainder of our stay at Folkestone, and an anxious time we had of it. | Пока мы оставались в Фолькстоне, мы строго следили за Амендой, и это доставляло нам много хлопот. |
| Every day some regiment or other would march through the town, and at the first sound of its music Amenda would become restless and excited. | Каждый день по городу проходил какой-нибудь полк, и при первых звуках музыки Аменда начинала волноваться. |
| The Pied Piper's reed could not have stirred the Hamelin children deeper than did those Sandgate bands the heart of our domestic. | Дудка "пестрого флейтиста" не действовала, должно быть, на детей из Гаммельна так, как эти сендгэйтские оркестры - на сердце нашей служанки. |
| Fortunately, they generally passed early in the morning when we were indoors, but one day, returning home to lunch, we heard distant strains dying away upon the Hythe Road. | К счастью, полки обычно проходили рано утром, когда мы были еще дома, но однажды, возвращаясь с прогулки к завтраку, мы услышали замирающие звуки музыки в конце Хайс-род. |
| We hurried in. | Мы поспешили в дом. |
| Ethelbertha ran down into the kitchen; it was empty!--up into Amenda's bedroom; it was vacant! | Этельберта побежала на кухню - она была пуста; наверх, в комнату Аменды, - там тоже никого не было. |
| We called. There was no answer. | Мы начали звать, но никто не откликнулся. |
| "'That miserable girl has gone off again,' said Ethelbertha. | "Эта несчастная девушка опять убежала, - сказала Этельберта. |
| 'What a terrible misfortune it is for her. It's quite a disease.' | - Как это ужасно для нее, это у нее просто болезнь". |
| "Ethelbertha wanted me to go to Sandgate camp and inquire for her. | Этельберта хотела, чтобы я пошел разыскивать Аменду в Сендгэйтский лагерь. |
| I was sorry for the girl myself, but the picture of a young and innocent-looking man wandering about a complicated camp, inquiring for a lost domestic, presenting itself to my mind, I said that I'd rather not. | Мне самому было очень жалко девушку, но когда я представил себе, как с наивным видом буду бродить вокруг военного лагеря в поисках своей пропавшей служанки, - я отказался. |
| "Ethelbertha thought me heartless, and said that if I would not go she would go herself. | Этельберта назвала меня бессердечным и заявила, что в таком случае она пойдет в лагерь сама. |
| I replied that I thought one female member of my household was enough in that camp at a time, and requested her not to. | Я просил ее не делать этого, так как в лагере уже находится одна особа женского пола из моего дома, и я нахожу, что этого более чем достаточно. |
| Ethelbertha expressed her sense of my inhuman behaviour by haughtily declining to eat any lunch, and I expressed my sense of her unreasonableness by sweeping the whole meal into the grate, after which Ethelbertha suddenly developed exuberant affection for the cat (who didn't want anybody's love, but wanted to get under the grate after the lunch), and I became supernaturally absorbed in the day-before-yesterday's newspaper. | Чтобы доказать всю бесчеловечность моего поведения, Этельберта гордо отказалась завтракать, а я, чтобы доказать ее безрассудность, смахнул весь завтрак в камин. Тогда Этельберта стала проявлять сверхъестественную нежность к кошке, которая не нуждалась ни в чьей нежности, а тянулась под каминную решетку, чтобы достать завтрак, а я необычайно сосредоточенно погрузился в чтение позавчерашней газеты. |
| "In the afternoon, strolling out into the garden, I heard the faint cry of a female in distress. | После полудня, выйдя побродить в сад, я услышал слабый женский крик, - кто-то звал на помощь. |
| I listened attentively, and the cry was repeated. | Я прислушался, крик повторился. |
| I thought it sounded like Amenda's voice, but where it came from I could not conceive. | Мне показалось, что я узнаю голос Аменды, но я никак не мог понять, откуда он доносился. |
| It drew nearer, however, as I approached the bottom of the garden, and at last I located it in a small wooden shed, used by the proprietor of the house as a dark-room for developing photographs. | По мере того, однако, как я углублялся в сад, зов становился все громче, и наконец я понял, что он исходит из небольшого деревянного сарайчика, в котором хозяин дома проявлял фотографические снимки. |
| "The door was locked. | Дверь была заперта. |
| 'Is that you, Amenda?' I cried through the keyhole. | "Это вы, Аменда?" - крикнул я через замочную скважину. |
| "'Yes, sir,' came back the muffled answer. | "Да, сэр, - услышал я приглушенный ответ. |
| 'Will you please let me out? you'll find the key on the ground near the door.' | - Будьте добры, выпустите меня. Ключ лежит на земле около двери". |
| "I discovered it on the grass about a yard away, and released her. | Я нашел его в траве на расстоянии примерно одного ярда от домика и выпустил ее. |
| 'Who locked you in?' I asked. | "Кто же запер вас здесь?" - спросил я. |
| "'I did, sir,' she replied; | "Я сама, сэр, - отвечала Аменда. |
| 'I locked myself in, and pushed the key out under the door. | - Я заперлась изнутри и выпихнула ключ через щель под дверью. |
| I had to do it, or I should have gone off with those beastly soldiers.' | Я не могла не сделать этого, сэр, иначе я ушла бы вслед за этими проклятыми солдатами. |
"'I hope I haven't inconvenienced you, sir,' she added, stepping out; 'I left the lunch all laid.'" * * * * * Amenda's passion for soldiers was her one tribute to sentiment. Towards all others of the male sex she maintained an attitude of callous unsusceptibility, and her engagements with them (which were numerous) were entered into or abandoned on grounds so sordid as to seriously shock Ethelbertha. When she came to us she was engaged to a pork butcher--with a milkman in reserve. For Amenda's sake we dealt with the man, but we never liked him, and we liked his pork still less. When, therefore, Amenda announced to us that her engagement with him was "off," and intimated that her feelings would in no way suffer by our going elsewhere for our bacon, we secretly rejoiced. "I am confident you have done right, Amenda," said Ethelbertha; "you would never have been happy with that man." "No, mum, I don't think I ever should," replied Amenda. "I don't see how any girl could as hadn't the digestion of an ostrich." Ethelbertha looked puzzled. "But what has digestion got to do with it?" she asked. "A pretty good deal, mum," answered Amenda, "when you're thinking of marrying a man as can't make a sausage fit to eat." "But, surely," exclaimed Ethelbertha, "you don't mean to say you're breaking off the match because you don't like his sausages!" "Well, I suppose that's what it comes to," agreed Amenda, unconcernedly. "What an awful idea!" sighed poor Ethelbertha, after a long pause. "Do you think you ever really loved him?" "Oh yes," said Amenda, "I loved him right enough, but it's no good loving a man that wants you to live on sausages that keep you awake all night." "But does he want you to live on sausages?" persisted Ethelbertha. "Oh, he doesn't say anything about it," explained Amenda; "but you know what it is, mum, when you marry a pork butcher; you're expected to eat what's left over. That's the mistake my poor cousin Eliza made. She married a muffin man. Of course, what he didn't sell they had to finish up themselves. Why, one winter, when he had a run of bad luck, they lived for two months on nothing but muffins. I never saw a girl so changed in all my life. One has to think of these things, you know." But the most shamefully mercenary engagement that I think Amenda ever entered into, was one with a 'bus conductor. We were living in the north of London then, and she had a young man, a cheesemonger, who kept a shop in Lupus Street, Chelsea. He could not come up to her because of the shop, so once a week she used to go down to him. One did not ride ten miles for a penny in those days, and she found the fare from Holloway to Victoria and back a severe tax upon her purse. The same 'bus that took her down at six brought her back at ten. During the first journey the 'bus conductor stared at Amenda; during the second he
Но я надеюсь, что я не доставила вам беспокойства, - прибавила она, - я оставила завтрак приготовленным на столе, сэр".
talked to her, during the third he gave her a cocoanut, during the fourth he proposed to her, and was promptly accepted. After that, Amenda was enabled to visit her cheesemonger without expense. He was a quaint character himself, this 'bus conductor. I often rode with him to Fleet Street. He knew me quite well (I suppose Amenda must have pointed me out to him), and would always ask me after her--aloud, before all the other passengers, which was trying--and give me messages to take back to her. Where women were concerned he had what is called "a way" with him, and from the extent and variety of his female acquaintance, and the evident tenderness with which the majority of them regarded him, I am inclined to hope that Amenda's desertion of him (which happened contemporaneously with her jilting of the cheesemonger) caused him less prolonged suffering than might otherwise have been the case. He was a man from whom I derived a good deal of amusement one way and another. Thinking of him brings back to my mind a somewhat odd incident. One afternoon, I jumped upon his 'bus in the Seven Sisters Road. An elderly Frenchman was the only other occupant of the vehicle. "You vil not forget me," the Frenchman was saying as I entered, "I desire Sharing Cross." "I won't forget yer," answered the conductor, "you shall 'ave yer Sharing Cross. Don't make a fuss about it." "That's the third time 'ee's arst me not to forget 'im," he remarked to me in a stentorian aside; "'ee don't giv' yer much chance of doin' it, does 'ee?" At the corner of the Holloway Road we drew up, and our conductor began to shout after the manner of his species: "Charing Cross--Charing Cross--'ere yer are--Come along, lady--Charing Cross." The little Frenchman jumped up, and prepared to exit; the conductor pushed him back. "Sit down and don't be silly," he said; "this ain't Charing Cross." The Frenchman looked puzzled, but collapsed meekly. We picked up a few passengers, and proceeded on our way. Half a mile up the Liverpool Road a lady stood on the kerb regarding us as we passed with that pathetic mingling of desire and distrust which is the average woman's attitude towards conveyances of all kinds. Our conductor stopped. "Where d'yer want to go to?" he asked her severely--" Strand--Charing Cross?" The Frenchman did not hear or did not understand the first part of the speech, but he caught the words "Charing Cross," and bounced up and out on to the step. The conductor collared him as he was getting off, and jerked him back savagely. "Carn't yer keep still a minute," he cried indignantly; "blessed if you don't want lookin' after like a bloomin' kid." "I vont to be put down at Sharing Cross," answered the Frenchman, humbly. "You vont to be put down at Sharing Cross," repeated the other bitterly, as he led him back to his seat. "I shall put yer down in the
middle of the road if I 'ave much more of yer. You stop there till I come and sling yer out. I ain't likely to let yer go much past yer Sharing Cross, I shall be too jolly glad to get rid o' yer." The poor
Frenchman subsided, and we jolted on. At "The Angel" we, of course, stopped. "Charing Cross," shouted the conductor, and up sprang the Frenchman. "Oh, my Gawd," said the conductor, taking him by the shoulders and forcing him down into the corner seat, "wot am I to do? Carn't somebody sit on 'im?" He held him firmly down until the 'bus started, and then released him. At the top of Chancery Lane the same scene took place, and the poor little Frenchman became exasperated. "He keep saying Sharing Cross, Sharing Cross," he exclaimed, turning to the other passengers; "and it is _no_ Sharing Cross. He is fool." "Carn't yer understand," retorted the conductor, equally indignant; "of course I say Sharing Cross-- I mean Charing Cross, but that don't mean that it _is_ Charing Cross. That means--" and then perceiving from the blank look on the Frenchman's face the utter impossibility of ever making the matter clear to him, he turned to us with an appealing gesture, and asked: "Does any
gentleman know the French for 'bloomin' idiot'?" A day or two afterwards, I happened to enter his omnibus again. "Well," I asked him, "did you get your French friend to Charing Cross all right?" "No, sir," he replied, "you'll 'ardly believe it, but I 'ad a bit of a row with a policeman just before I got to the corner, and it put 'im clean out o' my 'ead. Blessed if I didn't run 'im on to Victoria."
CHAPTER XI Said Brown one evening, "There is but one vice, and that is selfishness." Jephson was standing before the fire lighting his pipe. He puffed the tobacco into a glow, threw the match into the embers, and then said: "And the seed of all
virtue also." " Sit down and get on with your work,"
ГЛАВА XI
said MacShaughnassy from the sofa where he lay at full length with his heels on a chair; "we're discussing the novel. Paradoxes not admitted during business hours." Jephson, however, was in an argumentative mood. "Selfishness," he continued, "is merely another name for Will. Every deed, good or bad, that we do is prompted by selfishness. We are charitable to secure ourselves a good place in the next world, to make ourselves respected in this, to ease our own distress at the knowledge of suffering. One man is kind because it gives him pleasure to be kind, just as another is cruel because cruelty pleases him. A great man does his duty because to him the sense of duty done is a deeper delight than would be the case resulting from avoidance of duty. The religious man is religious because he finds a joy in religion; the moral man moral because with his strong self-respect, viciousness would mean wretchedness. Self- sacrifice itself is only a subtle selfishness: we prefer the mental exaltation gained thereby to the sensual gratification which is the alternative reward. Man cannot be anything else but selfish. Selfishness is the law of all life. Each thing, from the farthest fixed star to the smallest insect crawling on the earth, fighting for itself according to its strength; and brooding over all, the Eternal, working for _Himself_: that is the universe." "Have some whisky," said MacShaughnassy; "and don't be so complicatedly metaphysical. You make my head ache." "If all action, good and bad, spring from selfishness," replied Brown, "then there must be good selfishness and bad selfishness: and your bad selfishness is my plain selfishness, without any adjective, so we are back where we started. I say selfishness--bad selfishness--is the root of all evil, and there you are bound to agree with me." "Not always," persisted Jephson; "I've known selfishness--selfishness according to the ordinarily accepted meaning of the term--to be productive of good actions. I can give you an instance, if you like." "Has it got a moral?" asked
MacShaughnassy, drowsily, Jephson mused a moment. "Yes," he said at length; "a very practical moral--and one very useful to young men." "That's the sort of story we want," said the MacShaughnassy, raising himself into a sitting position. "You listen to this, Brown." Jephson seated himself upon a chair, in his favourite attitude, with his elbows resting upon the back, and smoked for a while in silence. "There are three people in this story," he began; "the wife, the wife's husband, and the other man. In most dramas of this type, it is the wife who is the chief character. In this case, the interesting person is the other man. "The wife-- I met her once: she was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, and the most wicked-looking; which is saying a good deal for both statements. I remember, during a walking tour one year, coming across a lovely little cottage. It was the sweetest place imaginable. I need not describe it. It was the cottage one sees in pictures, and reads of in sentimental poetry. I was leaning over the neatly-cropped hedge, drinking in its beauty, when at one of the tiny casements I saw, looking out at me, a face. It stayed there only a moment, but in that moment the cottage had become ugly, and I hurried away with a shudder. "That woman's face reminded me of the incident. It was an angel's face, until the woman herself looked out of it: then you were struck by the strange incongruity between tenement and tenant. "That at one time she had loved her husband, I have little doubt. Vicious women have few vices, and sordidness is not usually one of them. She had probably married him, borne towards him by one of those waves of passion upon which the souls of animal natures are continually rising and falling. On possession, however, had quickly followed satiety, and from satiety had grown the desire for a new sensation. "They were living at Cairo at the period; her husband held an important official position there, and by virtue of this, and of her own beauty and tact, her house soon became the centre of the Anglo-Saxon society ever drifting in and out of the city. The women disliked her, and copied her. The men spoke slightingly of her to their wives, lightly of her to each other, and made idiots of themselves when they were alone with her. She laughed at them to their faces, and mimicked them behind their backs. Their friends said it was clever. "One year there arrived a young English engineer, who had come out to superintend some canal works. He brought with him satisfactory letters of recommendation, and was at once received by the European residents as a welcome addition to their social circle. He was not particularly good- looking, he was not remarkably charming, but he possessed the one thing that few women can resist in a man, and that is strength. The woman looked at the man, and the man looked back at the woman; and the drama began. "Scandal flies swiftly through small communities. Before a month, their relationship was the chief topic of conversation throughout the quarter. In less than two, it reached the ears of the woman's husband. "He was either an exceptionally mean or an exceptionally noble character, according to how one views the matter. He worshipped his wife--as men with big hearts and weak brains often do worship such women--with dog- like devotion. His only dread was lest the scandal should reach
proportions that would compel him to take notice of it, and thus bring shame and suffering upon the woman to whom he would have given his life. That a man who saw her should love her seemed natural to him; that she should have grown tired of himself, a thing not to be wondered at. He was grateful to her for having once loved him, for a little while. "As for 'the other man,' he proved somewhat of an enigma to the gossips. He attempted no secrecy; if anything, he rather paraded his subjugation--or his conquest, it was difficult to decide which term to apply. He rode and drove with her; visited her in public and in private (in such privacy as can be hoped for in a house filled with chattering servants, and watched by spying eyes); loaded her with expensive presents, which she wore openly, and papered his smoking-den with her photographs. Yet he never allowed himself to appear in the least degree ridiculous; never allowed her to come between him and his work. A letter from her, he would lay aside unopened until he had finished what he evidently regarded as more important business. When boudoir and engine- shed became rivals, it was the boudoir that had to wait. "The woman chafed under his self-control, which stung her like a lash, but clung to him the more abjectly. "'Tell me you love me!' she would cry fiercely, stretching her white arms towards him. "'I have told you so,' he would reply calmly, without moving. "'I want to hear you tell it me again,' she would plead with a voice that trembled on a sob. 'Come close to me and tell it me again, again, again!' "Then, as she lay with half-closed eyes, he would pour forth a flood of passionate words sufficient to satisfy even her thirsty ears, and afterwards, as the gates clanged behind him, would take up an engineering problem at the exact point at which half an hour before, on her entrance into the room, he had temporarily dismissed it. "One day, a privileged friend put bluntly to him this question: 'Are you
playing for love or vanity?' "To which the man, after long pondering, gave this reply: ''Pon my soul, Jack, I couldn't tell you.' "Now, when a man is in love with a woman who cannot make up her mind whether she loves him or not, we call the complication comedy; where it is the woman who is in earnest the result is generally tragedy. "They continued to meet and to make love. They talked--as people in their position are prone to talk--of the beautiful life they would lead if it only were not for the thing that was; of the earthly paradise--or, maybe, 'earthy' would be the more suitable adjective--they would each create for the other, if only they had the right which they hadn't. "In this work of
imagination the man trusted chiefly to his literary faculties, which were considerable; the woman to her desires. Thus, his scenes possessed a grace and finish which hers lacked, but her pictures were the
more vivid. Indeed, so realistic did she paint them, that to herself they seemed realities, waiting for her. Then she would rise to go towards them only to strike herself against the thought of the thing that stood between her and them. At first she only hated the thing, but after a while there came an ugly look of hope into her eyes. "The time drew near for the man to return to England. The canal was completed, and a day appointed for the letting in of the water. The man determined to make the event the occasion of a social gathering. He invited a large number of guests, among whom were the woman and her husband, to assist at the function. Afterwards the party were to picnic at a pleasant wooded spot some three-quarters of a mile from the first lock. "The ceremony of flooding was to be performed by the woman, her husband's position entitling her to this distinction. Between the river and the head of the cutting had been left a strong bank of earth, pierced some distance down by a hole, which hole was kept closed by means of a closely- fitting steel plate. The woman drew the lever releasing this plate, and the water rushed through and began to press against the lock gates. When it had attained a certain depth, the sluices were raised, and the water poured down into the deep basin of the lock. "It was an exceptionally deep lock. The party gathered round and watched the water slowly rising. The woman looked down, and shuddered; the man was standing by her side. "'How deep it is,' she said. "'Yes,' he replied, 'it holds thirty feet of water, when full.' "The water
crept up inch by inch. "'Why don't you open the gates, and let it in quickly?' she asked. "'It would
not do for it to come in too quickly,' he explained; 'we shall half fill this lock, and then open the sluices at the other end, and so let the water pass through.' "The woman looked at the smooth stone walls and at the iron-plated gates. "'I wonder what a man would do,' she said, 'if he fell in, and there was no one near to help him?' "The man laughed. 'I think he would stop there,' he answered. 'Come, the others are waiting for us.' "He lingered a moment to give
some final instructions to the workmen. 'You can follow on when you've made all right,' he said, 'and get something to eat. There's no need for more than one to stop.' Then they joined the rest of the party, and sauntered on, laughing and talking, to the picnic ground. "After lunch the party broke up, as is the custom of picnic parties, and wandered away in groups and pairs. The man, whose duty as host had hitherto occupied all his attention, looked for the woman, but she was gone. "A friend strolled by, the same that had put the question to him about love and vanity. "'Have you quarrelled?' asked the
friend. "'No,' replied the man. "'I fancied you had,' said the other. 'I met her just now walking with her husband, of all men in the world, and making herself quite agreeable to him.' "The friend strolled on, and the man sat down on a fallen tree, and lighted a cigar. He smoked and thought, and the cigar burnt out, but he still sat thinking. "After a while he heard a faint rustling of the branches behind him, and peering between the interlacing leaves that hid him, saw the crouching figure of the woman creeping through the wood. "His lips were parted to call her name, when she turned her listening head in his direction, and his eyes fell full upon her face. Something about it, he could not have told what, struck him dumb, and the woman crept on. "Gradually the nebulous thoughts floating through his brain began to solidify into a tangible idea, and the man unconsciously started forward. After walking a few steps he broke into a run, for the idea had grown clearer. It continued to grow still clearer and clearer, and the man ran faster and faster, until at last he found himself racing madly towards the lock. As he approached it he looked round for the watchman who ought to have been there, but the man was gone from his post. He shouted, but if any answer was returned, it was drowned by the roar of the rushing water. "He reached the edge and looked down. Fifteen feet below him was the reality of the dim vision that had come to him a mile back in the woods: the woman's husband swimming round and round like a rat in a pail. "The river was flowing in and out of the lock at the same rate, so that the level of the water remained constant. The first thing the man did was to close the lower sluices and then open those in the upper gate to their fullest extent. The water began to rise. "'Can you hold out?' he cried. "The drowning man turned to him a face already contorted by the agony of exhaustion, and answered with a feeble 'No.' "He looked around for something to throw to the man. A plank had lain there in the morning, he remembered stumbling over it, and complaining of its having been left there; he cursed himself now for his care. "A hut used by the navvies to keep their tools in stood about two hundred yards away; perhaps it had been taken there, perhaps there he might even find a rope. "'Just one minute, old fellow!' he shouted down, 'and I'll be back.' "But the other did not hear him. The feeble struggles ceased. The face fell back upon the water, the eyes half closed as if with weary indifference. There was no time for him to do more than kick off his riding boots and jump in and clutch the unconscious figure as it sank. "Down there, in that walled-in trap, he fought a long fight with Death for the life that stood between him and the woman. He was not an expert swimmer, his clothes hampered him, he was already blown with his long race, the burden in his arms dragged him down, the water rose slowly enough to make his torture fit for Dante's hell. "At first he could not understand why this was so, but in glancing down he saw to his horror that he had not properly closed the lower sluices; in each some eight or ten inches remained open, so that the stream was passing out nearly half as fast as it came in. It would be another five- and-twenty minutes before the water would be high enough for him to grasp the top. "He noted where the line of wet had reached to, on the smooth stone wall, then looked again after what he thought must be a lapse of ten minutes, and found it had risen half an inch, if that. Once or twice he shouted for help, but the effort taxed severely his already failing breath, and his voice only came back to him in a hundred echoes from his prison walls. "Inch by inch the line of wet crept up, but the spending of his strength went on more swiftly. It seemed to him as if his inside were being gripped and torn slowly out: his whole body cried out to him to let it sink and lie in rest at the bottom. "At length his unconscious burden opened its eyes and stared at him stupidly, then closed them again with a sigh; a minute later opened them once more, and looked long and hard at him. "'Let me go,' he said, 'we shall both drown. You can manage by yourself.' "He made a feeble effort to release himself, but the other held him. "'Keep still, you fool!' he hissed; 'you're going to get out of this with me, or I'm going down with you.' "So the grim struggle went on in silence, till the man, looking up, saw the stone coping just a little way above his head, made one mad leap and caught it with his finger-tips, held on an instant, then fell back with a 'plump' and sank; came up and made another dash, and, helped by the impetus of his rise, caught the coping firmly this time with the whole of his fingers, hung on till his eyes saw the stunted grass, till they were both able to scramble out upon the bank and lie there, their breasts pressed close against the ground, their hands clutching the earth, while the overflowing water swirled softly round them. "After a while, they raised themselves and looked at one another. "'Tiring work,' said the other man, with a nod towards the lock. "'Yes,' answered the husband, 'beastly awkward not being a good swimmer. How did you know I had fallen in? You met my wife, I suppose?' "'Yes,' said the other man. "The husband sat staring at a point in the horizon for some minutes. 'Do you know what I was wondering this morning?' said he. "'No,' said the other man. "'Whether I should kill you or not.' "'They told me,' he continued, after a pause, 'a lot of silly gossip which I was cad enough to believe. I know now it wasn't true, because--well, if it had been, you would not have done what you have done.' "He rose and came across. 'I beg your pardon,' he said, holding out his hand. "'I beg yours,' said the other man, rising and taking it; 'do you mind giving me a hand with the sluices?' "They set to work to put the lock right. "'How did you manage to fall in?' asked the other man, who was raising one of the lower sluices, without looking round. "The husband hesitated, as if he found the explanation somewhat difficult. 'Oh,' he answered carelessly, 'the wife and I were chaffing, and she said she'd often seen you jump it, and'--he laughed a rather forced laugh--'she promised me a-- a kiss if I cleared it. It was a foolish thing to do.' "'Yes, it was rather,' said the other man. "A few days afterwards the man and woman met at a reception. He found her in a leafy corner of the garden talking to some friends. She advanced to meet him, holding out her hand. 'What can I say more than thank you?' she murmured in a low voice. "The others moved away, leaving them alone. 'They tell me you risked your life to save his?' she said. "'Yes,' he answered. "She raised her eyes to his, then struck him across the face with her ungloved hand. "'You damned fool!' she whispered. "He seized her by her white arms, and forced her back behind the orange trees. 'Do you know why?' he said, speaking slowly and distinctly; 'because I feared that, with him dead, you would want me to marry you, and that, talked about as we have been, I might find it awkward to avoid doing so; because I feared that, without him to stand between us, you might prove an annoyance to me--perhaps come between me and the woman I love, the woman I am going back to. Now do you understand?' "'Yes,' whispered the woman, and he left her. "But there are only two people," concluded Jephson, "who do not regard his saving of the husband's life as a highly noble and unselfish action, and they are the man himself and the woman." We thanked Jephson for his story, and promised to profit by the moral, when discovered. Meanwhile, MacShaughnassy said that he knew a story dealing with the same theme, namely, the too close attachment of a woman to a strange man, which really had a moral, which moral was: don't have anything to do with inventions. Brown, who had patented a safety gun, which he had never yet found a man plucky enough to let off, said it was a bad moral. We agreed to hear the particulars, and judge for ourselves. "This story," commenced MacShaughnassy, "comes from Furtwangen, a small town in the Black Forest. There lived there a very wonderful old fellow named Nicholaus Geibel. His business was the making of mechanical toys, at which work he had acquired an almost European reputation. He made rabbits that would emerge from the heart of a cabbage, flap their ears, smooth their whiskers, and disappear again; cats that would wash their faces, and mew so naturally that dogs would mistake them for real cats, and fly at them; dolls, with phonographs concealed within them, that would raise their hats and say, 'Good morning; how do you do?' and some that would even sing a
song. "But he was something more than a mere mechanic; he was an artist. His work was with him a hobby, almost a passion. His shop was filled with all manner of strange things that never would, or could, be sold--things he had made for the pure love of making them. He had contrived a mechanical donkey that would trot for two hours by means of stored electricity, and trot, too, much faster than the live article, and with less need for exertion on the part of the driver; a bird that would shoot up into the air, fly round and round in a circle, and drop to earth at the exact spot from where it started; a skeleton that, supported by an upright iron bar, would dance a hornpipe; a life-size lady doll that could play the fiddle; and a gentleman with a hollow inside who could smoke a pipe and drink more lager beer than any three average German students put together, which is saying much. "Indeed, it was the belief of the town that old Geibel could make a man capable of doing everything that a respectable man need want to do. One day he made a man who did too much, and it came about in this way. "Young Doctor Follen had a baby, and the baby had a birthday. Its first birthday put Doctor Follen's household into somewhat of a flurry, but on the occasion of its second birthday, Mrs. Doctor Follen gave a ball in honour of the event. Old Geibel and his daughter Olga were among the guests. "During the
afternoon of the next day, some three or four of Olga's bosom friends, who had also been present at the ball, dropped in to have a chat about it. They naturally fell to discussing the men, and to criticising their dancing. Old Geibel was in the room, but he appeared to be absorbed in his newspaper, and the girls took no notice of him. "'There seem to be fewer men who can dance, at every ball you go to,' said one of the girls. "'Yes, and don't the ones who can, give themselves airs,' said another; 'they make quite a favour of asking you.' "'And how stupidly they talk,' added a third. 'They always say exactly the same things: "How charming you are looking
to-night." "Do you often go to Vienna? Oh, you should, it's delightful." "What a charming dress you have on." "What a warm day it has been." "Do you like Wagner?" I do wish they'd think of something new.' "'Oh, I never mind how they talk,' said a fourth. 'If a man dances well he may be a fool for all I care.' "'He generally is,' slipped in a thin girl, rather spitefully. "'I go to a ball to dance,'
continued the previous speaker, not noticing the interruption. 'All I ask of a partner is that he shall hold me firmly, take me round steadily, and not get tired before I do.' "'A clockwork figure would be the thing for you,' said the girl who had interrupted. "'Bravo!' cried one of the others, clapping her hands, 'what a capital idea!' "'What's a capital idea?' they asked. "'Why, a clockwork dancer, or, better still,
one that would go by electricity and never run down.' "The girls took up the idea with enthusiasm. "'Oh, what a lovely partner he would make,' said one; 'he would never kick you, or tread on your toes.' "'Or tear your dress,' said another. "'Or get out of step.' "'Or get giddy and lean on you.' "'And he would never want to mop his face with his handkerchief. I do hate to see a man do that after every dance.' "'And wouldn't want to spend the whole evening in the supper-room.' "'Why, with a phonograph inside him to grind out all the stock remarks, you would not be able to tell him from a real man,' said the girl who had first suggested the idea. "'Oh yes, you would,' said the thin girl, 'he would be so much nicer.' "Old Geibel had laid down his paper, and was listening with both his ears. On one of the girls glancing in his direction, however, he hurriedly hid himself again behind it. "After the girls were gone, he went into his workshop, where Olga heard him walking up and down, and every now and then chuckling to himself; and that night he talked to her a good deal about dancing and dancing men--asked what they usually said and did--what dances were most popular--what steps were gone through, with many other questions bearing on the subject. "Then for a couple of weeks he kept much to his factory, and was very thoughtful and busy, though prone at unexpected moments to break into a quiet low laugh, as if enjoying a joke that nobody else knew of. "A month later another ball took place in Furtwangen. On this occasion it was given by old Wenzel, the wealthy timber merchant, to celebrate his niece's betrothal, and Geibel and his daughter were again among the invited. "When the hour arrived to set out, Olga sought her father. Not finding him in the house, she tapped at the door of his workshop. He appeared in his shirt-sleeves, looking hot, but radiant. "'Don't wait for me,' he said, 'you go on, I'll follow you. I've got something to finish.' "As she turned to obey he called after her, 'Tell them I'm going to bring a young man with me--such a nice young man, and an excellent dancer. All the girls will like him.' Then he laughed and closed the door. "Her father generally kept his doings secret from everybody, but she had a pretty shrewd suspicion of what he had been planning, and so, to a certain extent, was able to prepare the guests for what was coming. Anticipation ran high, and the arrival of the famous mechanist was eagerly awaited. "At length the sound of wheels was heard outside, followed by a great commotion in the passage, and old Wenzel himself, his jolly face red with excitement and suppressed laughter, burst into the room and announced in stentorian tones: "'Herr Geibel--and
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