crome yellow(克罗姆·耶娄)-第32章
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CROME YELLOW
CHAPTER XIX。
Henry Wimbush's long cigar burned aromatically。 The 〃History of
Crome〃 lay on his knee； slowly he turned over the pages。
〃I can't decide what episode to read you to…night；〃 he said thoughtfully。
〃Sir Ferdinando's voyages are not without interest。 Then； of course；
there's his son； Sir Julius。 It was he who suffered from the delusion that
his perspiration engendered flies； it drove him finally to suicide。 Or
there's Sir Cyprian。〃 He turned the pages more rapidly。 〃Or Sir Henry。
Or Sir George。。。No； I'm inclined to think I won't read about any of these。〃
〃But you must read something；〃 insisted Mr。 Scogan； taking his pipe
out of his mouth。
〃I think I shall read about my grandfather；〃 said Henry Wimbush； 〃and
the events that led up to his marriage with the eldest daughter of the last
Sir Ferdinando。〃
〃Good；〃 said Mr。 Scogan。 〃We are listening。〃
〃Before I begin reading；〃 said Henry Wimbush； looking up from the
book and taking off the pince…nez which he had just fitted to his nose
〃before their begin； I must say a few preliminary words about Sir
Ferdinando； the last of the Lapiths。 At the death of the virtuous and
unfortunate Sir Hercules； Ferdinando found himself in possession of the
family fortune； not a little increased by his father's temperance and thrift；
he applied himself forthwith to the task of spending it； which he did in an
ample and jovial fashion。 By the time he was forty he had eaten and；
above all； drunk and loved away about half his capital； and would
infallibly have soon got rid of the rest in the same manner； if he had not
had the good fortune to become so madly enamoured of the Rector's
daughter as to make a proposal of marriage。 The young lady accepted
him； and in less than a year had become the absolute mistress of Crome
and her husband。 An extraordinary reformation made itself apparent in
Sir Ferdinando's character。 He grew regular and economical in his habits；
he even became temperate； rarely drinking more than a bottle and a half of
port at a sitting。 The waning fortune of the Lapiths began once more to
wax； and that in despite of the hard times （for Sir Ferdinando married in
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1809 in the height of the Napoleonic Wars）。 A prosperous and dignified
old age； cheered by the spectacle of his children's growth and happiness
for Lady Lapith had already borne him three daughters； and there seemed
no good reason why she should not bear many more of them； and sons as
wella patriarchal decline into the family vault； seemed now to be Sir
Ferdinando's enviable destiny。 But Providence willed otherwise。 To
Napoleon； cause already of such infinite mischief； was due； though
perhaps indirectly； the untimely and violent death which put a period to
this reformed existence。
〃Sir Ferdinando； who was above all things a patriot； had adopted； from
the earliest days of the conflict with the French； his own peculiar method
of celebrating our victories。 When the happy news reached London； it
was his custom to purchase immediately a large store of liquor and； taking
a place on whichever of the outgoing coaches he happened to light on first；
to drive through the country proclaiming the good news to all he met on
the road and dispensing it； along with the liquor； at every stopping…place to
all who cared to listen or drink。 Thus； after the Nile； he had driven as far
as Edinburgh； and later； when the coaches； wreathed with laurel for
triumph； with cypress for mourning； were setting out with the news of
Nelson's victory and death； he sat through all a chilly October night on the
box of the Norwich 〃Meteor〃 with a nautical keg of rum on his knees and
two cases of old brandy under the seat。 This genial custom was one of
the many habits which he abandoned on his marriage。 The victories in
the Peninsula； the retreat from Moscow； Leipzig； and the abdication of the
tyrant all went uncelebrated。 It so happened； however； that in the
summer of 1815 Sir Ferdinando was staying for a few weeks in the capital。
There had been a succession of anxious； doubtful days； then came the
glorious news of Waterloo。 It was too much for Sir Ferdinando； his joyous
youth awoke again within him。 He hurried to his wine merchant and
bought a dozen bottles of 1760 brandy。 The Bath coach was on the point
of starting； he bribed his way on to the box and； seated in glory beside the
driver； proclaimed aloud the downfall of the Corsican bandit and passed
about the warm liquid joy。 They clattered through Uxbridge； Slough；
Maidenhead。 Sleeping Reading was awakened by the great news。 At
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Didcot one of the ostlers was so much overcome by patriotic emotions and
the 1760 brandy that he found it impossible to do up the buckles of the
harness。 The night began to grow chilly； and Sir Ferdinando found that it
was not enough to take a nip at every stage： to keep up his vital warmth
he was compelled to drink between the stages as well。 They were
approaching Swindon。 The coach was travelling at a dizzy speedsix
miles in the last half…hourwhen； without having manifested the slightest
premonitory symptom of unsteadiness； Sir Ferdinando suddenly toppled
sideways off his seat and fell； head foremost； into the road。 An
unpleasant jolt awakened the slumbering passengers。 The coach was
brought to a standstill； the guard ran back with a light。 He found Sir
Ferdinando still alive； but unconscious； blood was oozing from his mouth。
The back wheels of the coach had passed over his body； breaking most of
his ribs and both arms。 His skull was fractured in two places。 They
picked him up； but he was dead before they reached the next stage。 So
perished Sir Ferdinando； a victim to his own patriotism。 Lady Lapith did
not marry again； but determined to devote the rest of her life to the well…
being of her three childrenGeorgiana； now five years old； and Emmeline
and Caroline； twins of two。〃
Henry Wimbush paused； and once more put on his pince…nez。 〃So
much by way of introduction；〃 he said。 〃Now I can begin to read about
my grandfather。〃
〃One moment；〃 said Mr。 Scogan； 〃till I've refilled my pipe。〃
Mr。 Wimbush waited。 Seated apart in a corner of the room； Ivor was
showing Mary his sketches of Spirit Life。 They spoke together in
whispers。
Mr。 Scogan had lighted his pipe again。 〃Fire away；〃 he said。
Henry Wimbush fired away。
〃It was in the spring of 1833 that my grandfather； George Wimbush；
first made the acquaintance of the 'three lovely Lapiths；' as they were
always called。 He was then a young man of twenty…two； with curly
yellow hair and
