those extraordinary twins-第13章

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A　miserable　silence　followed。　　Aunt　Patsy's　heart　sank；　the　pallor　of
despair　invaded　her　face；　she　was　not　able　to　speak；　poor　Rowena　wrung
her　hands　in　privacy　and　silence；　and　said　to　herself　in　the　bitterness
of　her　young　grief；　〃There　is　no　hopeit　is　plain　there　is　no　hope〃；　the
good…hearted　negro　wench；　Nancy；　paled　to　chocolate；　then　to　orange；　then
to　amber；　and　thought　to　herself　with　yearning　sympathy　and　sorrow；　〃Po'
thing；　he　ain'　gwyne　to　las'　throo　de　half　o'　dat〃；　small　Henry　choked
up；　and　turned　his　head　away　to　hide　his　rising　tears；　and　his　brother
Joe　said　to　himself；　with　a　sense　of　loss；　〃The　baptizing's　busted；
that's　sure。〃　　Luigi　was　the　only　person　who　had　any　heart　to　speak。　　He
said；　a　little　bit　sharply；　to　the　doctor：

〃Well；　well；　there's　nothing　to　be　gained　by　wasting　precious　time；　give
him　a　barrel　of　pillsI'll　take　them　for　him。〃

〃You？〃　asked　the　doctor。

〃Yes。　　Did　you　suppose　he　was　going　to　take　them　himself？〃

〃Why；　of　course。〃

〃Well；　it's　a　mistake。　　He　never　took　a　dose　of　medicine　in　his　life。　　He
can't。〃

〃Well；　upon　my　word；　it's　the　most　extraordinary　thing　I　ever　heard　of！〃

〃Oh；〃　said　Aunt　Patsy；　as　pleased　as　a　mother　whose　child　is　being
admired　and　wondered　at；　〃you'll　find　that　there's　more　about　them　that's
wonderful　than　their　just　being　made　in　the　image　of　God　like　the　rest　of
His　creatures；　now　you　can　depend　on　that；　I　tell　you；〃　and　she　wagged
her　complacent　head　like　one　who　could　reveal　marvelous　things　if　she
chose。

The　boy　Joe　began：

〃Why；　ma；　they　ain't　made　in　the　im〃

〃You　shut　up；　and　wait　till　you're　asked；　Joe。　　I'll　let　you　know　when　I
want　help。　　Are　you　looking　for　something；　doctor？〃

The　doctor　asked　for　a　few　sheets　of　paper　and　a　pen；　and　said　he　would
write　a　prescription；　which　he　did。　　It　was　one　of　Galen's；　in　fact；　it
was　Galen's　favorite；　and　had　been　slaying　people　for　sixteen　thousand
years。　　Galen　used　it　for　everything；　applied　it　to　everything；　said　it
would　remove　everything；　from　warts　all　the　way　through　to　lungs　and　it
generally　did。　　Galen　was　still　the　only　medical　authority　recognized　in
Missouri；　his　practice　was　the　only　practice　known　to　the　Missouri
doctors；　and　his　prescriptions　were　the　only　ammunition　they　carried　when
they　went　out　for　game。

By　and　by　Dr。　Claypool　laid　down　his　pen　and　read　the　result　of　his
labors　aloud；　carefully　and　deliberately；　for　this　battery　must　be
constructed　on　the　premises　by　the　family；　and　mistakes　could　occur；
for　he　wrote　a　doctor's　hand　the　hand　which　from　the　beginning　of　time
has　been　so　disastrous　to　the　apothecary　and　so　profitable　to　the
undertaker：

〃Take　of　afarabocca；　henbane；　corpobalsamum；　each　two　drams　and　a　half：
of　cloves；　opium；　myrrh；　cyperus；　each　two　drams；　of　opobalsamum；　Indian
leaf；　cinnamon；　zedoary；　ginger；　coftus；　coral；　cassia；　euphorbium；　gum
tragacanth；　frankincense；　styrax　calamita；　Celtic；　nard；　spignel；
hartwort；　mustard；　saxifrage；　dill；　anise；　each　one　dram；　of　xylaloes；
rheum　ponticum；　alipta；　moschata；　castor；　spikenard；　galangals；　opoponax；
anacardium；　mastich；　brimstone；　peony；　eringo；　pulp　of　dates；　red　and
white　hermodactyls；　roses；　thyme；　acorns；　pennyroyal；　gentian；　the　bark
of　the　root　of　mandrake；　germander；　valerian；　bishop's…weed；　bayberries；
long　and　white　pepper；　xylobalsamum；　carnabadium；　macedonian；　parsley
seeds；　lovage；　the　seeds　of　rue；　and　sinon；　of　each　a　dram　and　a　half；　of
pure　gold；　pure　silver；　pearls　not　perforated；　the　blatta　byzantina；　the
bone　of　the　stag's　heart；　of　each　the　quantity　of　fourteen　grains　of
wheat；　of　sapphire；　emerald　and　jasper　stones；　each　one　dram；　of　hazel…
nuts；　two　drams；　of　pellitory　of　Spain；　shavings　of　ivory；　calamus
odoratus；　each　the　quantity　of　twenty…nine　grains　of　wheat；　of　honey　or
sugar　a　sufficient　quantity。　　Boil　down　and　skim　off。〃

〃There；〃　he　said；　〃that　will　fix　the　patient；　give　his　brother　a
dipperful　every　three…quarters　of　an　hour〃

〃while　he　survives；〃　muttered　Luigi

〃and　see　that　the　room　is　kept　wholesomely　hot；　and　the　doors　and
windows　closed　tight。　　Keep　Count　Angelo　nicely　covered　up　with　six　or
seven　blankets；　and　when　he　is　thirstywhich　will　be　frequentlymoisten
a　'rag　in　the　vapor　of　the　tea　kettle　and　let　his　brother　suck　it。　　When
he　is　hungrywhich　will　also　be　frequently　he　must　not　be　humored
oftener　than　every　seven　or　eight　hours；　then　toast　part　of　a　cracker
until　it　begins　to　brown；　and　give　it　to　his　brother。〃

〃That　is　all　very　well；　as　far　as　Angelo　is　concerned；〃　said　Luigi；　〃but
what　am　I　to　eat？〃

〃I　do　not　see　that　there　is　anything　the　matter　with　you；〃　the　doctor
answered；　〃you　may；　of　course；　eat　what　you　please。〃

〃And　also　drink　what　I　please；　I　suppose？〃

〃Oh；　certainlyat　present。　　When　the　violent　and　continuous　perspiring
has　reduced　your　strength；　I　shall　have　to　reduce　your　diet；　of　course；
and　also　bleed　you；　but　there　is　no　occasion　for　that　yet　awhile。〃　　He
turned　to　Aunt　Patsy　and　said：　〃He　must　be　put　to　bed；　and　sat　up　with；
and　tended　with　the　greatest　care；　and　not　allowed　to　stir　for　several
days　and　nights。〃

〃For　one；　I'm　sacredly　thankful　for　that；〃　said　Luigi；　〃it　postpones　the
funeralI'm　not　to　be　drowned　to…day；　anyhow。〃

Angelo　said　quietly　to　the　doctor：

〃I　will　cheerfully　submit　to　all　your　requirements；　sir；　up　to　two
o'clock　this　afternoon；　and　will　resume　them　after　three；　but　cannot　be
confined　to　the　house　during　that　intermediate　hour。〃

〃Why；　may　I　ask？〃

〃Because　I　have　entered　the　Baptist　communion；　and　by　appointment　am　to
be　baptised　in　the　river　at　that　hour。〃

〃Oh；　insanity！it　cannot　be　allowed！〃

Angelo　answered　with　placid　firmness：

〃Nothing　shall　prevent　it；　if　I　am　alive。〃

〃Why；　consider；　my　dear　sir；　in　your　condition　it　might　prove　fatal。〃

A　tender　and　ecstatic　smile　beamed　from　Angelo's　eyes；　and　he　broke　forth
in　a　tone　of　joyous　fervency：

〃Ah；　how　blessed　it　would　be　to　die　for　such　a　causeit　would　be
martyrdom！〃

〃But　your　brotherconsider　your　brother；　you　would　be　risking　his　life；
too。〃

〃He　risked　mine　an　hour　ago；〃　responded　Angelo；　gloomily；　〃did　he
consider　me？〃　　A　thought　swept　through　his　mind　that　made　him　shudder。
〃If　I　had　not　run；　I　might　have　been　killed　in　a　duel　on　the　Sabbath　day；
and　my　soul　would　have　been　lostlost。〃

〃Oh；　don't　fret；　it　wasn't　in　any　danger；〃　said　Luigi；　irritably；　〃they
wouldn't　waste　it　for　a　little　thing　like　that；　there's　a　glass　case　all
ready　for　it　in　the　heavenly　museum；　and　a　pin　to　stick　it　up　with。〃

Aunt　Patsy　was　shocked；　and　said：

〃Looy；　Looy！don't　talk　so；　dear！〃

Rowena's　soft　heart　was　pierced　by　Luigi's　unfeeling　words；　and　she
murmured　to　herself；　〃Oh；　if　I　but　had　the　dear　privilege　of　protecting
and　defending　him　with　my　weak　voice！but　alas！　this　sweet　boon　is
denied　me　by　the　cruel　conventions　of　social　intercourse。〃

〃Get　their　bed　ready；〃　said　Aunt　Patsy　to　Nancy；　〃and　shut　up　the　windows
and　doors；　and　light　their　candles；　and　see　that　you　drive　all　the
mosquitoes　out　of　their　bar；　and　make　up　a　good　fire　in　their　stove；　and
carry　up　some　bags　of　hot　ashes　to　lay　to　his　feet〃

〃and　a　shovel　of　fire　for　his　head；　and　a　mustard　plaster　for　his　neck；
and　some　gum　shoes　for　his　ears；〃　Luigi　interrupted；　with　temper；　and
added；　to　himself；　〃Damnation；　I'm　going　to　be　roasted　alive；　I　just　know
it！〃

〃Why；　Looy！　　Do　be　quiet；　I　never　saw　such　a　fractious　thing。　　A　body
would　think　you　didn't　care　for　your　brother。〃

〃I　don'tto　that　extent；　Aunt　Patsy。　　I　was　glad　the　drowning　was
postponed　a　minute　ago；　but　I'm　not　now。　　No；　that　is　all　gone　by；　I　want
to　be　drowned。〃

〃You'll　bring　a　judgment　on　yourself　just　as　sure　as　you　live；　if　you　go
on　like　that。　　Why；　I　never　heard　the　beat　of　it。　　Now；　therethere！
you've　said　enough。　　Not　another　word　out　of　youI　won't　have　it！〃

〃But；　Aunt　Patsy〃

〃Luigi！　　Didn't　you　hear　what　I　told　you？〃

〃But；　Aunt　Patsy；　Iwhy；　I'm　not　going　to　set　my　heart　and　lungs　afloat
in　that　pail　of　sewage　which　this　criminal　here　has　been　prescri〃

〃Yes；　you　are；　too。　　You　are　going　to　be　good；　and　do　everything　I　tell
you；　like　a　dear；〃　and　she　tapped　his　c