登陆注册
15420500000006

第6章 Chapter 3(2)

"You see, I have been such a long time away from Europe that things seem strange to me now; but I was born and bred on the edge of Epping Forest; Walthamstow and Woodford, to wit. ""A pretty place too," broke in Dick; "a very jolly place, now that the trees have had time to grow again since the great clearing of houses in 1955."Quoth the irrepressible weaver: "Dear neighbour, since you knew the Forest some time ago, could you tell me what truth there is in the rumour that in the nineteenth century the trees were all pollards?

This was catching me on my archaeological natural-history side, and Ifell into the trap without any thought of where and when I was; so Ibegan on it, while one of the girls, the handsome one, who had been scattering little twigs of lavender and other sweet-smelling herbs about the floor, came near to listen, and stood behind me with her hand on my shoulder, in which she held some of the plant that I used to call balm: its strong sweet smell brought back to my mind my very early days in the kitchen-garden at Woodford, and the large blue plums which grew on the wall beyond the sweet-herb patch,--a connection of memories which all boys will see at once.

I started off: "When I was a boy, and for long after, except for a piece about Queen Elizabeth's Lodge, and for the part about High Beech, the Forest was almost entirely made up of pollard hornbeams mixed with holly thickets. But when the Corporation of London took it over about twenty-five years ago, the topping and lopping, which was a part of the old commoners' rights, came to an end, and the trees were let to grow. But I have not seen the place bnow for many yearsm except once, when we Leaguers were shocked to see how it was built-over amd altered; and the other day we heard that the philistines were going to landscape-garden it. But what you were saying about the building being stopped and the trees growing is only too good news;--only you know--"At that point I suddenly remembered Dick's date, and stopped short rather confused. The eager weaver didn't notice my confusion, but said hastily, as if he were almost aware of his breach of good manners, "But I say, how old are you?"Dick and the pretty girl both burst out laughing, as if Robert's conduct were excusable on the grounds of eccentricity; and Dick said amidst his laughter:

"Hold hard, Bob; this questioning of guests won't do. Why, much learning is spoiling you. You remind me of the radical cobblers in the silly old novels, who, according to the authors, were prepared to trample down all good manners in the pursuit of utilitarian knowledge.

The fact is, I begin to think that you have so muddled your head with mathematics, and with grubbing into those idiotic old books about political economy (he he!), that you scarcely know how to behave.

Really, it is about time for you to take to some open-air work, so that you may clear away the cobwebs from your brain."The weaver only laughed good-humoredly; and the girl went up to him and patted his cheek and said laughingly, "Poor fellow! he was born so."As for me, i was a little puzzled, but I laughed also, partly for the company's sake, and partly with pleasure at their unanxious happiness and good temper; and before Robert could make the excuse to me which he was getting ready, I said:

"But, neighbours" (I had caught up that word), "I don't in the least mind answering questions, when I can do so: ask me as many as you please; and as to my age I'm not a fine lady, you know, so why shouldn't I tell you? I'm hard on fifty-six. "In spite of the recent lecture on good manners, the weaver could not help giving a long "whew" of astonishment, and the others were so amused by his _naivet巁 that the merriment flitted all over their faces, though for courtes y's sake thay forbore actual laughter; while I looked from one to the other in a puzzled manner, and at last said:

"Tell me, please, what is amiss: you know I want to learn from you.

And please laugh; only tell me."

Well, they _did_ laugh, and I joined them again, for the above-stated reasons. But at last the pretty woman said coaxingly:

"Well, well, he _is_ rude, poor fellow! but you see I may as well tell you what he is thinking about; he means that you look rather old for your age. But surely there need be no wonder in that, since you have been travelling; and clearly from all you have been saying, in unsocial countries. It has often been said, and no doubt truly that one ages very quickly if one lives amongst unhappy people. Also they say that southern England is a good place for keeping good looks." She blushed and said:"How old am I, do you think?""Well," quoth I, "I have always been told that a woman is as old as sht looks, so without offence or flattery, i should say that you were twenty"She laughed merrily, and said, "I am well served out for fishing for compliments, since I have to tell you the truth, to wit, that I am forty-two."I stared at her, and drew musical laughter from her again; but I might well stare, for there was not a careful line on her face; her skin was as smooth as ivory, her cheeks full and round, her lips as red as the roses she had brought in; her beautiful arms which she had bared for work, firm and well-knit from shoulder to wrist. She blushed a little under my gaze, though it was clear that she had taken me for a man of eighty; so to pass it off I said:

"Well, you see, the old saw is proved right again, and I ought not to have let you tempt me into asking you a rude question."She laughed again, and said: " Well, lads, old and young, I must get to my wowrk now. We shall be rather busy here presently; and I want to clear it off soon, for I began to read a pretty old book yesterday, and I want to get on with it this morning; so good-bye for the present."She waved a hand to usk, and stepped lightly down the hall, taking (as Scott says) at least part of the sun from our table as she went.

When she was gone, Dick said, "Now, guest, won't you ask a question or two of our friend here? It is only fair that you should have your turn.""I shall be very glad to answer them," said the weaver.

同类推荐
  • 道德真经注

    道德真经注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 诗品校定本

    诗品校定本

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 大乘无生方便门

    大乘无生方便门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 银海精微

    银海精微

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 王氏医案绎注

    王氏医案绎注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 穿越异世之杀手王妃

    穿越异世之杀手王妃

    从21世纪穿越过去的她,成为了不受宠的丞相嫡女,冷酷无情的他,身为王爷,在她百般的不屑下,终于将她娶为他的王妃,在同一个屋檐下的他们究竟会擦出什么样的火花……………………
  • 魂笛之绝爱倾城

    魂笛之绝爱倾城

    上古传说,轩辕姑射,情比金坚,轩辕制笛,姑射缔名,曰:“轩辕笛”。善者得之,冬花争放;恶者夺之,天有异象.....大清顺治年间,魂笛再现。南家有女无月,继承家命,守护魂笛。江湖漂泊,意外与化名为江湖剑客毕剑的顺治帝相逢,二人共历艰难险阻,久生情愫......看满汉族别,地位悬殊,爱恨情仇纠葛下的倾城绝恋。
  • 职场人脉圈

    职场人脉圈

    本书稿主要从职场人脉关系入手,分别从职场做人、做事、说话和人际交往等方面分别介绍了一些职场生存策略,笔调刺骨、辛辣,对职场中人具有很强的指导和警示作用。
  • 噬魂记

    噬魂记

    传说人死之后,窍内出三魂七魄,代表人之善恶,三魂为善,七魄为恶。三魂出窍,通过阴阳路进入阴界,再通过六道轮回转世投胎,即可重生。而魄却没有那么幸运,正常来说,七七四十九天之后,就会消散,完全泯灭。所以,魄为了能长久的生存下去,就去吞噬魂,把三魂成功吞噬,会变成鬼。鬼是特殊的存在,再也不能转世投胎,但却可以长存下去。【?欢迎加入我的皇今屋,群号码:392770288】
  • 往事回忆

    往事回忆

    『80后的烦恼』我们的经历!~首先是家庭的环境和个人因素,在就是现代社会的影响。幼年的时候天真可爱,童年的时候快乐的成长。大了以后烦恼随风而来。离开校园离开家的温暖,就什么不行了…『在家事事好~出门万事难』那时离开了学校。你就是这个社会的一份子了,踏上了人生的火车。来到了陌生的城市,能力有限。报着多干活少说话的原则。都说《男怕入错行女怕嫁错郎》那时只想赚钱,没想那么多,可是社会在前进。而我在适应努力适应,为了适应这样的环境,我们付出了许多的时间,青春,和太多的感情。我很不快乐的也不情愿付出,现在工作太难,要靠关系和实力,没人没关系就只能顾眼前,何来还谈起理想。经历了许多你会从中吸取经验,经验都是用伤痛换来的,路是自己选的也是自己走的,开心快乐自己争取,人能有几个十年,错过对过不去计较,有时候你为别人想想你会更开心幸福,哪怕没有回报,重要的是和自己家人和心爱的她在一起快乐的白头到老。我们曾许下诺言永远在一起永不分离,白头到老、为了这份爱,我哭过傻过,可是还是结束了这份爱,或许有和多人像我一样的经历。不过不愿意提起而已。注意事项:本文中也采集了大量的情感文字来感受其中的情节,也许某些情节是作者无法表达的,但剧情没有改变,夜里不想睡觉一个人静静的呆在家里不知道该做什么,打开电脑上QQ也不想聊天。只想听音乐看着电脑都不知道玩什么了。感觉他在玩我-听着歌:伤心的歌曲让俺流泪-抽着烟:有点恶心的感觉-盖着被。还是觉得冷冷的-都不知道做什么了-哭了有小会可是心情还是不好哟-别笑我-我也很脆弱啊友情链接作者:lc:QQ:1013617420群号:134252008邮箱:1013617420@qq.com笑对人生窝窝http://zhohuadushuluntan.5d6d.com/wowo/?50848645中华读书论坛网址笑对人生板块http://zhohuadushuluntan.5d6d.com/bbs.phphttp://jm1013617420.51.comhttp://qq1013617420.56.comhttp://zone.ku6.co
  • 翼羽之旅

    翼羽之旅

    枫芩苹与纤陌泉、霄云娜无意中进入翼羽之都。要想回去必须经过十八个城市找到十八根翼羽开启幻影之门回到原来的世界。在这旅行中他们在十五个城市中还找到和他们一起旅行的伙伴。他们的故事会怎样精彩呢?
  • 萧之木夏

    萧之木夏

    《我们的盛夏光年》:在蜜色的时光里,树叶摇着,光影晃动,我就觉得自己变得像年轻时一样,全部的生命里喷薄出枝叶繁茂,那是我初见你,初见爱情时的模样。《情书》:有个男孩,叫顾南笙,我与他耗了久久时光,却也没能抵得过这一路客套。《氧》:我以为的恋爱元素是,你我时光交合,长途漫漫,事事安好,岁月深长。无论我什么年龄,无论是否违背世俗,你能果敢望我,款款深情,人里来往,青丝白发。
  • 五行君王

    五行君王

    在五行大陆这个强者为尊,崇尚武道的世界里,凌云从一个不被认可无法开启武魂印记的少年,无意中被五行遗志选中,开启了五行印记,修炼五行神术。逆天罚,诛神杀魔,降妖灭鬼,一拳一脚地闯出了另一个世界。成为一方主宰的君王。
  • 忘不了的小事(心灵感悟书坊)

    忘不了的小事(心灵感悟书坊)

    众人的一生中,总有让你刻骨铭心难以忘怀的大事和小事。本书主要为您记录了一些生活中具有启迪意义的小事。事虽小,却件件忘不了。您在轻松的阅读后,会不由自主地为生活中的平时不易发现的细节和小事而感叹,如参禅般顿悟,您会感到不虚此“读”。
  • 佛说十二佛名神咒校量功德除障灭罪经

    佛说十二佛名神咒校量功德除障灭罪经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。