章节正文
this world is an awful place, believe me."
"There's something in the world amiss Will be
unriddled by and by,"
quoted Anne dreamily.
"If it is, it'll be in a world where there aren't any
men," said Miss Cornelia gloomily.
"What have the men been doing now?" asked Gilbert,
entering.
"Mischief--mischief! What else did they ever do?"
"It was Eve ate the apple, Miss Cornelia."
" 'Twas a he-creature tempted her," retorted Miss
Cornelia triumphantly.
Leslie, after her first anguish was over, found it
possible to go on with life after all, as most of us
do, no matter what our particular form of torment has
been. It is even possible that she enjoyed moments of
it, when she was one of the gay circle in the little
house of dreams. But if Anne ever hoped that she was
forgetting Owen Ford she would have been undeceived by
the furtive hunger in Leslie's eyes whenever his name
was mentioned. Pitiful to that hunger, Anne always
contrived to tell Captain Jim or Gilbert bits of news
from Owen's letters when Leslie was with them. The
girl's flush and pallor at such moments spoke all too
eloquently of the emotion that filled her being. But
she never spoke of him to Anne, or mentioned that night
on the sand-bar.
One day her old dog died and she grieved bitterly over
him.
"He's been my friend so long," she said sorrowfully to
Anne. "He was Dick's old dog, you know--Dick had him
for a year or so before we were married. He left him
with me when he sailed on the Four Sisters. Carlo got
very fond of me--and his dog-love helped me through
that first dreadful year after mother died, when I was
alone. When I heard that Dick was coming back I was
afraid Carlo wouldn't be so much mine. But he never
seemed to care for Dick, though he had been so fond of
him once. He would snap and growl at him as if he were
a stranger. I was glad. It was nice to have one thing
whose love was all mine. That old dog has been such a
comfort to me, Anne. He got so feeble in the fall that
I was afraid he couldn't live long--but I hoped I could
nurse him through the winter. He seemed pretty well
this morning. He was lying on the rug before the fire;
then, all at once, he got up and crept over to me; he
put his head on my lap and gave me one loving look out
of his big, soft, dog eyes--and then he just shivered
and died. I shall miss him so."
"Let me give you another dog, Leslie," said Anne .
"I'm getting a lovely Gordon setter for a Christmas
present for Gilbert. Let me give you one too."
Leslie shook her head.
"Not just now, thank you, Anne. I don't feel like
having another dog yet. I don't seem to have any
affection left for another. Perhaps--in time--I'll let
you give me one. I really need one as a kind of
protection. But there was something almost human about
Carlo-- it wouldn't be DECENT to fill his place too
hurriedly, dear old fellow ."
Anne went to Avonlea a week before Christmas and stayed
until after the holidays. Gilbert came up for her, and
there was a glad New Year celebration at Green Gables,
when Barrys and Blythes and Wrights assembled to devour
a dinner which had cost Mrs. Rachel and Marilla much
careful thought and preparation. When they went back
to Four Winds the little house was almost drifted over,
for the third storm of a winter that was to prove
phenomenally stormy had whirled up the harbor and
heaped huge snow mountains about everything it
encountered. But Captain Jim had shovelled out doors
and paths, and Miss Cornelia had come down and kindled
the hearth-fire.
"It's good to see you back, Anne, dearie! But did you
ever see such drifts? You can't see the Moore place at
all unless you go upstairs. Leslie'll be so glad
you're back. She's almost buried alive over there.
Fortunately Dick can shovel snow, and thinks it's great
fun. Susan sent me word to tell you she would be on
hand tomorrow. Where are you off to now, Captain?"
"I reckon I'll plough up to the Glen and sit a bit with
old Martin Strong. He's not far from his end and he's
lonesome. He hasn't many friends--been too busy all
his life to make any. He's made heaps of money,
though."
"Well, he thought that since he couldn't serve God and
Mammon he'd better stick to Mammon," said Miss
Cornelia crisply. "So he shouldn't complain if he
doesn't find Mammon very good company now."
Captain Jim went out, but remembered something in the
yard and turned back for a moment.
"I'd a letter from Mr. Ford, Mistress Blythe, and he
says the life-book is accepted and is going to be
published next fall. I felt fair uplifted when I got
the news. To think that I'm to see it in print at
last."
"That man is clean crazy on the subject of his
life-book," said Miss Cornelia compassionately. "For
my part, I think there's far too many books in the
world now."
CHAPTER 29
GILBERT AND ANNE DISAGREE
Gilbert laid down the ponderousmedical tome over which
he had been poring until the increasing dusk of the
March evening made him desist. He leaned back in his
chair and gazed meditatively out of the window. It was
early spring--probably the ugliest time of the year.
Not even the sunset could redeem the dead, sodden
landscape and rotten black harbor ice upon which he
looked. No sign of life was visible, save a big black
crow winging his solitary way across a leaden field.
Gilbert speculated idly concerning that crow. Was he a
family crow, with a black but comely crow wife
awaiting him in the woods beyond the Glen? Or was he a
glossy young buck of a crow on courting thoughts
intent? Or was he a cynicalbachelor crow, believing
that he travels the fastest who travels alone?
Whatever he was, he soon disappeared in congenial gloom
and Gilbert turned to the cheerier view indoors.
The firelight flickered from point to point, gleaming
on the white and green coats of Gog and Magog, on the
sleek, brown head of the beautiful setter basking on
the rug, on the picture frames on the walls, on the
vaseful of daffodils from the window garden, on Anne
herself, sitting by her little table, with her sewing
beside her and her hands clasped over her knee while
she traced out pictures in the fire--Castles in Spain
whose airy turrets pierced moonlit cloud and sunset
bar-ships sailing from the Haven of Good Hopes straight
to Four Winds Harbor with precious burthen. For Anne
was again a dreamer of dreams, albeit a grim shape of
fear went with her night and day to shadow and darken
her visions.
Gilbert was accustomed to refer to himself as "an old
married man." But he still looked upon Anne with the
incredulous eyes of a lover. He couldn't wholly
believe yet that she was really his. It MIGHT be only
a dream after all, part and parcel of this magic house
of dreams. His soul still went on tip-toe before her,
lest the charm be shattered and the dream dispelled.
"Anne," he said slowly, "lend me your ears. I want to
talk with you about something."
Anne looked across at him through the fire-lit gloom.
"What is it?" she asked gaily. "You look fearfully
solemn, Gilbert. I really haven't done anything
naughty today. Ask Susan."
"It's not of you--or ourselves--I want to talk. It's
about Dick Moore."
"Dick Moore?" echoed Anne, sitting up alertly. "Why,
what in the world have you to say about Dick Moore?"
"I've been thinking a great deal about him lately. Do
you remember that time last summer I treated him for
those carbuncles on his neck?"
"Yes--yes."
" I took the opportunity to examine the scars on his
head thoroughly. I've always thought Dick was a very
interesting case from a medical point of view. Lately
I've been studying the history of trephining and the
cases where it has been employed. Anne, I have come to
the conclusion that if Dick Moore were taken to a good
hospital and the operation of trephining performed on
several places in his skull, his memory and faculties
might be restored."
"Gilbert!" Anne's voice was full of protest. "Surely
you don't mean it!"
"I do, indeed. And I have decided that it is my duty
to broach the subject to Leslie."
"Gilbert Blythe, you shall NOT do any such thing,"
cried Anne vehemently. "Oh, Gilbert, you won't--you
won't. You couldn't be so cruel. Promise me you
won't."
"Why, Anne-girl, I didn't suppose you would take it
like this. Be reasonable--"
"I won't be reasonable--I can't be reasonable--I AM
reasonable. It is you who are unreasonable. Gilbert,
have you ever once thought what it would mean for
Leslie if Dick Moore were to be restored to his right
senses? Just stop and think! She's unhappy enough
now; but life as Dick's nurse and attendant is a
thousand times easier for her than life as Dick's wife.
I know--I KNOW! It's unthinkable. Don't you meddle
with the matter. Leave well enough alone."
"I HAVE thought over that aspect of the case
thoroughly, Anne. But I believe that a doctor is
bound to set the sanctity of a patient's mind and body
above all other considerations, no matter what the
consequences may be. I believe it his duty to endeavor
to restore health and sanity, if there is any hope
whatever of it."
"But Dick isn't your patient in that respect," cried
Anne, taking another tack. "If Leslie had asked you if
anything could be done for him, THEN it might be your
duty to tell her what you really thought. But you've
no right to meddle ."
"I don't call it meddling. Uncle Dave told Leslie
twelve years ago that nothing could be done for Dick.
She believes that, of course."
"And why did Uncle Dave tell her that, if it wasn't
true?" cried Anne, triumphantly. "Doesn't he know as
much about it as you?"
"I think not--though it may sound conceited and
"There's something in the world amiss Will be
unriddled by and by,"
quoted Anne dreamily.
"If it is, it'll be in a world where there aren't any
men," said Miss Cornelia gloomily.
"What have the men been doing now?" asked Gilbert,
entering.
"Mischief--mischief! What else did they ever do?"
"It was Eve ate the apple, Miss Cornelia."
" 'Twas a he-creature tempted her," retorted Miss
Cornelia triumphantly.
Leslie, after her first anguish was over, found it
possible to go on with life after all, as most of us
do, no matter what our particular form of torment has
been. It is even possible that she enjoyed moments of
it, when she was one of the gay circle in the little
house of dreams. But if Anne ever hoped that she was
forgetting Owen Ford she would have been undeceived by
the furtive hunger in Leslie's eyes whenever his name
was mentioned. Pitiful to that hunger, Anne always
contrived to tell Captain Jim or Gilbert bits of news
from Owen's letters when Leslie was with them. The
girl's flush and pallor at such moments spoke all too
eloquently of the emotion that filled her being. But
she never spoke of him to Anne, or mentioned that night
on the sand-bar.
One day her old dog died and she grieved bitterly over
him.
"He's been my friend so long," she said sorrowfully to
Anne. "He was Dick's old dog, you know--Dick had him
for a year or so before we were married. He left him
with me when he sailed on the Four Sisters. Carlo got
very fond of me--and his dog-love helped me through
that first dreadful year after mother died, when I was
alone. When I heard that Dick was coming back I was
afraid Carlo wouldn't be so much mine. But he never
seemed to care for Dick, though he had been so fond of
him once. He would snap and growl at him as if he were
a stranger. I was glad. It was nice to have one thing
whose love was all mine. That old dog has been such a
comfort to me, Anne. He got so feeble in the fall that
I was afraid he couldn't live long--but I hoped I could
nurse him through the winter. He seemed pretty well
this morning. He was lying on the rug before the fire;
then, all at once, he got up and crept over to me; he
put his head on my lap and gave me one loving look out
of his big, soft, dog eyes--and then he just shivered
and died. I shall miss him so."
"Let me give you another dog, Leslie," said Anne .
"I'm getting a lovely Gordon setter for a Christmas
present for Gilbert. Let me give you one too."
Leslie shook her head.
"Not just now, thank you, Anne. I don't feel like
having another dog yet. I don't seem to have any
affection left for another. Perhaps--in time--I'll let
you give me one. I really need one as a kind of
protection. But there was something almost human about
Carlo-- it wouldn't be DECENT to fill his place too
hurriedly, dear old fellow ."
Anne went to Avonlea a week before Christmas and stayed
until after the holidays. Gilbert came up for her, and
there was a glad New Year celebration at Green Gables,
when Barrys and Blythes and Wrights assembled to devour
a dinner which had cost Mrs. Rachel and Marilla much
careful thought and preparation. When they went back
to Four Winds the little house was almost drifted over,
for the third storm of a winter that was to prove
phenomenally stormy had whirled up the harbor and
heaped huge snow mountains about everything it
encountered. But Captain Jim had shovelled out doors
and paths, and Miss Cornelia had come down and kindled
the hearth-fire.
"It's good to see you back, Anne, dearie! But did you
ever see such drifts? You can't see the Moore place at
all unless you go upstairs. Leslie'll be so glad
you're back. She's almost buried alive over there.
Fortunately Dick can shovel snow, and thinks it's great
fun. Susan sent me word to tell you she would be on
hand tomorrow. Where are you off to now, Captain?"
"I reckon I'll plough up to the Glen and sit a bit with
old Martin Strong. He's not far from his end and he's
lonesome. He hasn't many friends--been too busy all
his life to make any. He's made heaps of money,
though."
"Well, he thought that since he couldn't serve God and
Mammon he'd better stick to Mammon," said Miss
Cornelia crisply. "So he shouldn't complain if he
doesn't find Mammon very good company now."
Captain Jim went out, but remembered something in the
yard and turned back for a moment.
"I'd a letter from Mr. Ford, Mistress Blythe, and he
says the life-book is accepted and is going to be
published next fall. I felt fair uplifted when I got
the news. To think that I'm to see it in print at
last."
"That man is clean crazy on the subject of his
life-book," said Miss Cornelia compassionately. "For
my part, I think there's far too many books in the
world now."
CHAPTER 29
GILBERT AND ANNE DISAGREE
Gilbert laid down the ponderousmedical tome over which
he had been poring until the increasing dusk of the
March evening made him desist. He leaned back in his
chair and gazed meditatively out of the window. It was
early spring--probably the ugliest time of the year.
Not even the sunset could redeem the dead, sodden
landscape and rotten black harbor ice upon which he
looked. No sign of life was visible, save a big black
crow winging his solitary way across a leaden field.
Gilbert speculated idly concerning that crow. Was he a
family crow, with a black but comely crow wife
awaiting him in the woods beyond the Glen? Or was he a
glossy young buck of a crow on courting thoughts
intent? Or was he a cynicalbachelor crow, believing
that he travels the fastest who travels alone?
Whatever he was, he soon disappeared in congenial gloom
and Gilbert turned to the cheerier view indoors.
The firelight flickered from point to point, gleaming
on the white and green coats of Gog and Magog, on the
sleek, brown head of the beautiful setter basking on
the rug, on the picture frames on the walls, on the
vaseful of daffodils from the window garden, on Anne
herself, sitting by her little table, with her sewing
beside her and her hands clasped over her knee while
she traced out pictures in the fire--Castles in Spain
whose airy turrets pierced moonlit cloud and sunset
bar-ships sailing from the Haven of Good Hopes straight
to Four Winds Harbor with precious burthen. For Anne
was again a dreamer of dreams, albeit a grim shape of
fear went with her night and day to shadow and darken
her visions.
Gilbert was accustomed to refer to himself as "an old
married man." But he still looked upon Anne with the
incredulous eyes of a lover. He couldn't wholly
believe yet that she was really his. It MIGHT be only
a dream after all, part and parcel of this magic house
of dreams. His soul still went on tip-toe before her,
lest the charm be shattered and the dream dispelled.
"Anne," he said slowly, "lend me your ears. I want to
talk with you about something."
Anne looked across at him through the fire-lit gloom.
"What is it?" she asked gaily. "You look fearfully
solemn, Gilbert. I really haven't done anything
naughty today. Ask Susan."
"It's not of you--or ourselves--I want to talk. It's
about Dick Moore."
"Dick Moore?" echoed Anne, sitting up alertly. "Why,
what in the world have you to say about Dick Moore?"
"I've been thinking a great deal about him lately. Do
you remember that time last summer I treated him for
those carbuncles on his neck?"
"Yes--yes."
" I took the opportunity to examine the scars on his
head thoroughly. I've always thought Dick was a very
interesting case from a medical point of view. Lately
I've been studying the history of trephining and the
cases where it has been employed. Anne, I have come to
the conclusion that if Dick Moore were taken to a good
hospital and the operation of trephining performed on
several places in his skull, his memory and faculties
might be restored."
"Gilbert!" Anne's voice was full of protest. "Surely
you don't mean it!"
"I do, indeed. And I have decided that it is my duty
to broach the subject to Leslie."
"Gilbert Blythe, you shall NOT do any such thing,"
cried Anne vehemently. "Oh, Gilbert, you won't--you
won't. You couldn't be so cruel. Promise me you
won't."
"Why, Anne-girl, I didn't suppose you would take it
like this. Be reasonable--"
"I won't be reasonable--I can't be reasonable--I AM
reasonable. It is you who are unreasonable. Gilbert,
have you ever once thought what it would mean for
Leslie if Dick Moore were to be restored to his right
senses? Just stop and think! She's unhappy enough
now; but life as Dick's nurse and attendant is a
thousand times easier for her than life as Dick's wife.
I know--I KNOW! It's unthinkable. Don't you meddle
with the matter. Leave well enough alone."
"I HAVE thought over that aspect of the case
thoroughly, Anne. But I believe that a doctor is
bound to set the sanctity of a patient's mind and body
above all other considerations, no matter what the
consequences may be. I believe it his duty to endeavor
to restore health and sanity, if there is any hope
whatever of it."
"But Dick isn't your patient in that respect," cried
Anne, taking another tack. "If Leslie had asked you if
anything could be done for him, THEN it might be your
duty to tell her what you really thought. But you've
no right to meddle ."
"I don't call it meddling. Uncle Dave told Leslie
twelve years ago that nothing could be done for Dick.
She believes that, of course."
"And why did Uncle Dave tell her that, if it wasn't
true?" cried Anne, triumphantly. "Doesn't he know as
much about it as you?"
"I think not--though it may sound conceited and
- circle [´sə:kəl]
n.圆圈 v.环绕；盘旋 (初中英语单词) - hunger [´hʌŋgə] n.饥饿；渴望 (初中英语单词)
- whenever [wen´evə] conj.&ad.无论何时 (初中英语单词)
- emotion [i´məuʃən] n.感情；情绪；激动 (初中英语单词)
- bitterly [´bitəli] ad.悲痛地；憎恨地 (初中英语单词)
- dreadful [´dredful] a.可怕的；讨厌的 (初中英语单词)
- feeble [´fi:bəl] a.虚弱的，无力的 (初中英语单词)
- preparation [,prepə´reiʃən] n.准备；预习(时间) (初中英语单词)
- reckon [´rekən] v.计算；认为；估计 (初中英语单词)
- complain [kəm´plein] vi.抱怨，叫屈；控诉 (初中英语单词)
- mistress [´mistris] n.女主人；情妇；女能手 (初中英语单词)
- medical [´medikəl] a.医学的；医疗的 (初中英语单词)
- sunset [´sʌnset] n.日落；晚霞 (初中英语单词)
- visible [´vizəbəl] a.可见的；明显的 (初中英语单词)
- parcel [´pɑ:sl] n.包裹；一批 vt.区分 (初中英语单词)
- lately [´leitli] ad.近来，不久前 (初中英语单词)
- thoroughly [´θʌrəli] ad.完全地，彻底地 (初中英语单词)
- conclusion [kən´klu:ʒən] n.结束；结论；推论 (初中英语单词)
- unhappy [ʌn´hæpi] a.不幸的；不快乐的 (初中英语单词)
- attendant [ə´tendənt] n.随员 a.伴随的 (初中英语单词)
- aspect [´æspekt] n.面貌；神色；方向 (初中英语单词)
- restore [ri´stɔ:] vt.(使)恢复；修复 (初中英语单词)
- anguish [´æŋgwiʃ] n.(极度的)痛苦；苦恼 (高中英语单词)
- torment [´tɔ:ment] vt.(使)痛苦，折磨 (高中英语单词)
- pitiful [´pitifəl] a.可怜的；慈悲的 (高中英语单词)
- loving [´lʌviŋ] a.爱的，有爱情的 (高中英语单词)
- decent [´di:sənt] a.体面的，正派的 (高中英语单词)
- celebration [,seli´breiʃən] n.庆祝(会)；庆典 (高中英语单词)
- shovel [´ʃʌvəl] n.铲子；铁锹 (高中英语单词)
- plough [plau] n.耕地 v.犁 (高中英语单词)
- redeem [ri´di:m] vt.买回；偿还；履行 (高中英语单词)
- rotten [´rɔtn] a.腐烂的；腐朽的 (高中英语单词)
- solitary [´sɔlitəri] a.独居的；孤独的 (高中英语单词)
- concerning [kən´sə:niŋ] prep.关于 (高中英语单词)
- bachelor [´bætʃələ] n.未婚男子；学士 (高中英语单词)
- decided [di´saidid] a.明显的；决定的 (高中英语单词)
- meddle [´medl] vi.干涉(预)；乱弄 (高中英语单词)
- upstairs [,ʌp´steəz] ad.在楼上 a.楼上的 (英语四级单词)
- comely [´kʌmli] a.秀丽的；文雅的 (英语四级单词)
- congenial [kən´dʒi:niəl] a.意气相投的；合适的 (英语四级单词)
- unreasonable [ʌn´ri:zənəbl] a.不合理的；荒唐的 (英语四级单词)
- triumphantly [trai´ʌmfəntli] ad.胜利地；洋洋得意地 (英语四级单词)
- ponderous [´pɔndərəs] a.沉重的；冗长的 (英语六级单词)
- cynical [´sinikəl] a.讥诮的；冷嘲的 (英语六级单词)
- moonlit [´mu:n,lit] a.月光普照的 (英语六级单词)
- dreamer [´dri:mə] n.做梦的人；梦想者 (英语六级单词)
- albeit [ɔ:l´bi:it] conj.即使；纵使；虽然 (英语六级单词)
- sanctity [´sæŋktiti] n.神圣；圣洁；尊严 (英语六级单词)
- taking [´teikiŋ] a.迷人的 n.捕获物 (英语六级单词)
- conceited [kən´si:tid] a.自负的；自夸的 (英语六级单词)
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章节正文
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