new burlesques(新讽刺诗)-第10章
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box； interrupted the acting with explanations。 She informed the heroine
of the design of the villain waiting at the wings。 And when the aged
mother of the heroine was dying of starvation in a hovel； and she threw a
bag of bonbons on the stage； with the vociferous declaration that 〃Lord
Brownstone had just given them to herbutLordy！SHE didn't want
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them；〃 they were obliged to lead her away； closely followed by an usher
and a policeman。 〃To think；〃 she wrote to John Gale； 〃that the audience
only laughed and shouted； and never offered to help！ And yet look at the
churches in London； where they dare to preach the gospel！〃
Fired by this simple letter； and alarmed by Golly's simplicity； John
Gale went to his clerical chief； Archdeacon Luxury； and demanded
permission to preach next Sunday。 〃Certainly；〃 said the Archdeacon；
〃you shall take my curate's place。 I shall inform the congregation that
you are the son of Lord Gale。 They are very particular churchmenall
society peopleand of course will be satisfied with the work of the Lord；
especially；〃 he added； with a polite smile； 〃when that work happens to be
the Lord Gale's son。〃 Accordingly； the next Sunday； John Gale occupied
the pulpit of St。 Swithin。 But an unexpected event happened。 His pent…
up eagerness to denounce the present methods of Christianity； his fullness
of utterance； defeated his purpose。 He was overcome with a kind of
pulpit fright。 His ideas of time and place fled him。 After beginning；
〃Mr。 Chairman； in rising to propose the toast of our worthy Archdeacon
Fellow Manxmenthe present momentererthe proudest in myer
lifeDearly beloved Gollyunaccustomed as I am to public speaking；〃 he
abruptly delivered the benediction and sat down。 The incident； however；
provoked little attention。 The congregation； accustomed to sleep through
the sermon； awoke at the usual time and went home。 Only a single
Scotchwoman said to him in passing： 〃Verra weel for a beginning； laddie。
But give it hotter to 'em next time。〃 Discomfited and bewildered； he
communed with himself gloomily。 〃I can't marry Golly。 I can't talk。 I
hate society。 What's to be done？ I have it！ I'll go into a monastery。〃
He went into a monastery in Bishopsgate Street； reached by a
threepenny 'bus。 He gave out vaguely that he had got into 〃Something
Good； in the City。〃 Society was satisfied。 Only Golly suspected the
truth。 She wrote to her grandfather：
〃I saw John Gale the other day with a crowd following him in the
Strand。 He had on only a kind of brown serge dressing…gown； tied
around his waist by a rope； and a hood on his head。 I think his poor 'toe…
toes' were in sandals； and I dare say his legs were cold； poor dear。
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However； if he calls THAT protection of GollyI don't！ I might be run off
at any momentfor all he'd help。 No matter！ If this Court understands
herself； and she thinks she do； Golly can take care of herselfyou bet。〃
Nevertheless； Golly lost her place at the hospital through her heroic
defense of her friend Jinny Jones； who had been deceived by Lord
Brownstone Ewer。 〃You would drive that poor girl into the street；〃 she
said furiously to the Chairman of the Board； throwing her cap and apron in
their faces。 〃You're a lot of rotten old hypocrites； and I'm glad to get shut
of you。〃 Not content with that； she went to Drake and demanded that he
should make his friend Lord Brownstone marry Jinny。
〃Sorryawfully sorrymy dear Golly； but he's engaged to a rich
American girl who is to pay his debts； but I'll see that he does something
handsome for Jinny。 And YOU； my child； what are YOU going to do
without a situation？〃 he added； with touching sympathy。 〃You see； I've
some vague idea of marrying you myself；〃 he concluded meditatively。
〃Thank you for nothing；〃 interrupted Golly gayly； 〃but I can take care
of myself and follow out my mission like John Gale。〃
〃There's a pair of you； certainly；〃 said Drake； with a tinge of jealous
bitterness。
〃You bet it's 'a pair' that will take your 'two knaves；' you and your Lord
Brownstone；〃 returned Golly； dropping a mock courtesy。 〃Ta…ta； I'm going
on the stage。〃
BOOK III
She went first into a tobacconist'sand sold cigarettes。 Sometimes
she suffered from actual want； and ate fried fish。 〃Do you know how
nice fried fish tastes in London；you on 'the Oilan'？〃 she wrote gayly。
〃I'm getting on splendidly； so's John Gale； I suppose； though he's looking
cadaverous from starving himself all round。 Tell aunty I haven't seen the
Queen yet； though after all I really believe she has not seen me。〃
Then； after a severe struggle； she succeeded in getting on the stage as a
song and dance girl。 She sang melodiously and danced divinely； so
remarkably that the ignorant public； knowing her to be a Manx girl； and
vaguely associating her with the symbol of the Isle of Man； supposed she
had three legs。 She was the success of the season； her cup of ambition
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was filled。 It was slightly embittered by the news that her friend Jinny
Jones had killed herself in the church at the wedding of her recreant lover
and the American heiress。 But the affair was scarcely alluded to by the
Society paperswho were naturally shocked at the bad taste of the
deceased。 And even Golly forgot it allon the stage。
BOOK IV
Meanwhile John Gale； or Brother Boreas； as he was known in the
monastery； was submittingamong other rigorsto an exceptionally
severe winter in Bishopsgate Street； which seemed to have an Arctic
climate of its own；possibly induced by the 〃freezing…out〃 process of
certain stock companies in its vicinity。
〃You are miserable； and eager to get out in the wicked world again； my
son； said the delightful old Superior； as he sat by the only fire； sipping a
glass of mulled port； when John came in from shoveling snow outside。 〃I；
therefore； merely to try you； shall make you gatekeeper。 The keys of the
monastery front door are under the door…mat in my cell； but I am a sound
sleeper。〃 He smiled seraphically； and winked casually as he sipped his
port。 〃We will call it； if you pleasea penance。〃
John threw himself in an agony of remorse and shame at the feet of the
Superior。 〃It isn't of myself I'm thinking；〃 he confessed wildly； 〃but of
that poor young man； Brother Bones； in the next cell to mine。 He is a
living skeleton； has got only one lung and an atrophied brain。 A night out
might do him good。〃
The Father Superior frowned。 〃Do you know who he i
