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lavengro-第107部分

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'I don't know;' said I; seating myself; 'your first course consists 

of troutlets; I am fond of troutlets; and I always like to be 

companionable。'



The dinner was excellent; though I did but little justice to it 

from the circumstance of having already dined; the stranger also; 

though without my excuse; partook but slightly of the good cheer; 

he still continued taciturn; and appeared lost in thought; and 

every attempt which I made to induce him to converse was signally 

unsuccessful。



And now dinner was removed; and we sat over our wine; and I 

remember that the wine was good; and fully justified the encomiums 

of my host of the town。  Over the wine I made sure that my 

entertainer would have loosened the chain which seemed to tie his 

tongue … but no!  I endeavoured to tempt him by various topics; and 

talked of geometry and the use of the globes; of the heavenly 


sphere; and the star Jupiter; which I said I had heard was a very 

large star; also of the evergreen tree; which; according to Olaus; 

stood of old before the heathen temple of Upsal; and which I 

affirmed was a yew … but no; nothing that I said could induce my 

entertainer to relax his taciturnity。



It grew dark; and I became uncomfortable。  'I must presently be 

going;' I at last exclaimed。



At these words he gave a sudden start; 'Going;' said he; 'are you 

not my guest; and an honoured one?'



'You know best;' said I; 'but I was apprehensive I was an intruder; 

to several of my questions you have returned no answer。'



'Ten thousand pardons!' he exclaimed; seizing me by the hand; 'but 

you cannot go now; I have much to talk to you about … there is one 

thing in particular … '



'If it be the evergreen tree at Upsal;' said I; interrupting him; 

'I hold it to have been a yew … what else?  The evergreens of the 

south; as the old bishop observes; will not grow in the north; and 

a pine was unfitted for such a locality; being a vulgar tree。  What 

else could it have been but the yew … the sacred yew which our 

ancestors were in the habit of planting in their churchyards?  

Moreover; I affirm it to have been the yew for the honour of the 

tree; for I love the yew; and had I home and land; I would have one 

growing before my front windows。'



'You would do right; the yew is indeed a venerable tree; but it is 

not about the yew。'



'The star Jupiter; perhaps?'



'Nor the star Jupiter; nor its moons; an observation which escaped 

you at the inn has made a considerable impression upon me。'



'But I really must take my departure;' said I; 'the dark hour is at 

hand。'



And as I uttered these latter words the stranger touched rapidly 

something which lay near him … I forget what it was。  It was the 

first action of the kind which I had observed on his part since we 

sat down to table。



'You allude to the evil chance;' said I; 'but it is getting both 

dark and late。'



'I believe we are going to have a storm;' said my friend; 'but I 

really hope that you will give me your company for a day or two; I 

have; as I said before; much to talk to you about。'



'Well;' said I; 'I shall be most happy to be your guest for this 

night; I am ignorant of the country; and it is not pleasant to 

travel unknown paths by night … dear me; what a flash of 

lightning。'



It had become very dark; suddenly a blaze of sheet lightning 

illumed the room。  By the momentary light I distinctly saw my host 

touch another object upon the table。



'Will you allow me to ask you a question or two?' said he at last。



'As many as you please;' said I; 'but shall we not have lights?'



'Not unless you particularly wish it;' said my entertainer; 'I 

rather like the dark; and though a storm is evidently at hand; 

neither thunder nor lightning has any terrors for me。  It is other 

things I quake at … I should rather say ideas。  Now permit me to 

ask you … '



And then my entertainer asked me various questions; to all of which 

I answered unreservedly; he was then silent for some time; at last 

he exclaimed; 'I should wish to tell you the history of my life … 

though not an adventurous one; I think it contains some things 

which will interest you。'



Without waiting for my reply he began。  Amidst darkness and gloom; 

occasionally broken by flashes of lightning; the stranger related 

to me; as we sat at table in the library; his truly touching 

history。



'Before proceeding to relate the events of my life; it will not be 

amiss to give you some account of my ancestors。  My great…

grandfather on the male side was a silk mercer; in Cheapside; who; 

when he died; left his son; who was his only child; a fortune of 

one hundred thousand pounds and a splendid business; the son; 

however; had no inclination for trade; the summit of his ambition 

was to be a country gentleman; to found a family; and to pass the 

remainder of his days in rural ease and dignity; and all this he 

managed to accomplish; he disposed of his business; purchased a 

beautiful and extensive estate for fourscore thousand pounds; built 

upon it the mansion to which I had the honour of welcoming you to…

day; married the daughter of a neighbouring squire; who brought him 

a fortune of five thousand pounds; became a magistrate; and only 

wanted a son and heir to make him completely happy; this blessing; 

it is true; was for a long time denied him; it came; however; at 

last; as is usual; when least expected。  His lady was brought to 

bed of my father; and then who so happy a man as my grandsire; he 

gave away two thousand pounds in charities; and in the joy of his 

heart made a speech at the next quarter sessions; the rest of his 

life was spent in ease; tranquillity; and rural dignity; he died of 

apoplexy on the day that my father came of age; perhaps it would be 

difficult to mention a man who in all respects was so fortunate as 

my grandfather:  his death was sudden it is true; but I am not one 

of those who pray to be delivered from a sudden death。



'I should not call my father a fortunate man; it is true that he 

had the advantage of a first…rate education; that he made the grand 

tour with a private tutor; as was the fashion at that time; that he 

came to a splendid fortune on the very day that he came of age; 

that for many years he tasted all the diversions of the capital 

that; at last determined to settle; he married the sister of a 

baronet; an amiable and accomplished lady; with a large fortune; 

that he had the best stud of hunters in the county; on which; 

during the season; he followed the fox gallantly; had he been a 

fortunate man he would never have cursed his fate; as he was 

frequently known to do; ten months after his marriage his horse 

fell upon him; and so injured him; that he expired in a few days in 

great agony。  My grandfather was; indeed; a fortunate man; when he 

died he was followed to the grave by the tears of the poor … my 

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