gulliver of mars(火星上的格列弗)-第60章
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gratified and I was home again； the stupendous incident scarcely appealed
to my tingling sen… ses more than one of the many others I had lately
undergone。
Very slowly I rose to my feet； and as like a discreditable reveller as
could be； climbed the steps。 The front door was open； and entering the
oh； so familiar hall a sound of voices in my sitting…room on the right
caught my ear。
〃Oh no； Mrs。 Brown；〃 said one； which I recognised at once as my
Polly's； 〃he is dead for certain； and my heart is breaking。 He would never；
never have left me so long without writing if he had been alive；〃 and then
came a great sound of sobbing。
〃Bless your kind heart； miss；〃 said the voice of my land… lady in reply；
〃but you don't know as much about young gentlemen as I do。 It is not
likely； if he has gone off on the razzle…dazzle； as I am sure he has； he is
going to write every post and tell you about it。 Now you go off to your
ma at the hotel like a dear； and forget all about him till he comes back
that's MY advice。〃
〃I cannot； I cannot； Mrs。 Brown。 I cannot rest by day or sleep by
night for thinking of him； for wondering why he went away so suddenly；
and for hungering for news of him。 Oh； I am miserable。 Gully！ Gully！
Come to me；〃 and then there were sounds of troubled footsteps pacing to
and fro and of a woman's grief。
That was more than I could stand。 I flung the door open； and； dirty；
dishevelled； with unsteady steps； advanced into the room。
〃Ahem！〃 coughed Mrs。 Brown； 〃just as I expected！〃
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But I had no eyes for her。 〃Polly！ Polly！〃 I cried； and that dear girl；
after a startled scream and a glance to make sure it was indeed the
recovered prodigal； rushed over and threw all her weight of dear； warm；
comfortable woman… hood into my arms； and the moment after burst into a
pas… sion of happy tears down my collar。
〃Humph！〃 quoth the landlady； 〃that is not what BROWN gets when he
forgets his self。 No； not by any means。〃
But she was a good old soul at heart； and； seeing how matters stood；
with a parting glance of scorn in my direction and a toss of her head； went
out of the room； and closed the door behind her。
Need I tell in detail what followed？ Polly behaved like an angel； and
when in answer to her gentle reproaches I told her the outlines of my
marvellous story she almost be… lieved me！ Over there on the writing…
desk lay a whole row of the unopened letters she had showered upon me
during my absence； and amongst them an official one。 We went and
opened it together； and it was an intimation of my promotion； a much
better 〃step〃 than I had ever dared to hope for。
Holding that missive in my hand a thought suddenly oc… curred to me。
〃Polly dear； this letter makes me able to maintain you as you ought to
be maintained； and there is still a fortnight of vacation for me。 Polly； will
you marry me tomorrow？〃
〃No； certainly not； sir。〃
〃Then will you marry me on Monday？〃
〃Do you truly； truly want me to？〃
〃Truly； truly。〃
〃Then； yes；〃 and the dear girl again came blushing into my arms。
While we were thus the door opened； and in came her parents who
were staying at a neighbouring hotel while in… quiries were made as to my
mysterious absence。 Not un… naturally my appearance went a long way
to confirm suspi… cions such as Mrs。 Brown had confessed to； and； after
they had given me cold salutations； Polly's mother； fixing gold glasses on
the bridge of her nose and eyeing me haughtily therefrom； observed；
〃And now that you ARE safely at home again； Lieuten… ant Gulliver
Jones； I think I will take my daughter away with me。 Tomorrow her
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father will ascertain the true state of her feelings after this unpleasant
experience； and sub… sequently he will no doubt communicate with you on
the subject。〃 This very icily。
But I was too happy to be lightly put down。
〃My dear madam；〃 I replied； 〃I am happy to be able to save her father
that trouble。 I have already communicated with this young lady as to the
state of her feelings； and as an outcome I am delighted to be able to tell
you we are to be married on Monday。〃
〃Oh yes； Mother； it is true； and if you do not want to make me the
most miserable of girls again you will not be unkind to us。〃
In brief； that sweet champion spoke so prettily and smoothed things so
cleverly that I was 〃forgiven；〃 and later on in the evening allowed to
escort Polly back to her hotel。
〃And oh！〃 she said； in her charmingly enthusiastic way when we were
saying goodnight； 〃you shall write a book about that extraordinary story
you told me just now。 Only you must promise me one thing。〃
〃What is it？〃
〃To leave out all about HeruI don't like that part at all。〃 This with the
prettiest little pout。
〃But； Polly dear； see how important she was to the nar… rative。 I
cannot quite do that。〃
〃Then you will say as little as you can about her？〃
〃No more than the story compels me to。〃
〃And you are quite sure you like me much the best； and will not go
after her again？〃
〃Quite sure。〃
The compact was sealed in the most approved fashion； and here；
indulgent reader； is the artless narrative that re… sultedan incident so
incredible in this prosaic latter…day world that I dare not ask you to believe；
and must humbly content myself with hoping that if I fail to convince yet I
may at least claim the consolation of having amused you。
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