over the teacups-第42章
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Christian Gospels。
Delilah； and how she got her name。
Est…elle bien gentille； cette petite？ I said one day to Number Five；
as our pretty Delilah put her arm between us with a bunch of those
tender early radishes that so recall the rosy…fingered morning of
Homer。 The little hand which held the radishes would not have shamed
Aurora。 That hand has never known drudgery； I feel sure。
When I spoke those French words our little Delilah gave a slight；
seemingly involuntary start； and her cheeks grew of as bright a red
as her radishes。 Ah； said I to myself； does that young girl
understand French？ It may be worth while to be careful what one says
before her。
There is a mystery about this girl。 She seems to know her place
perfectly；except； perhaps； when she burst out crying； the other
day； which was against all the rules of table…maiden's etiquette；
and yet she looks as if she had been born to be waited on； and not to
perform that humble service for others。 We know that once in a while
girls with education and well connected take it into their heads to
go into service for a few weeks or months。 Sometimes it is from
economic motives；to procure means for their education； or to help
members of their families who need assistance。 At any rate； they
undertake the lighter menial duties of some household where they are
not known； and； having stoopedif stooping it is to be considered
to lowly offices； no born and bred servants are more faithful to all
their obligations。 You must not suppose she was christened Delilah。
Any of our ministers would hesitate to give such a heathen name to a
Christian child。
The way she came to get it was this： The Professor was going to give
a lecture before an occasional audience； one evening。 When he took
his seat with the other Teacups； the American Annex whispered to the
other Annex； 〃His hair wants cutting；it looks like fury。〃 〃Quite
so；〃 said the English Annex。 〃I wish you would tell him so； I do；
awfully。〃 〃I'll fix it；〃 said the American girl。 So； after the
teacups were emptied and the company had left the table； she went up
to the Professor。 〃You read this lecture； don't you； Professor？〃 she
said。 〃I do；〃 he answered。 〃I should think that lock of hair which
falls down over your forehead would trouble you；〃 she said。 〃It does
sometimes；〃 replied the Professor。 〃Let our little maid trim it for
you。 You're equal to that； aren't you？〃 turning to the handmaiden。
〃I always used to cut my father's hair；〃 she answered。 She brought a
pair of glittering shears； and before she would let the Professor go
she had trimmed his hair and beard as they had not been dealt with
for many a day。 Everybody said the Professor looked ten years
younger。 After that our little handmaiden was always called Delilah；
among the talking Teacups。
The Mistress keeps a watchful eye on this young girl。 I should not
be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal； some fancy
or whim；possibly nothing more； but springing from some generous；
youthful impulse。 Perhaps she is working for that little sister at
the Blind Asylum。 Where did she learn French？ She did certainly
blush； and betrayed every sign of understanding the words spoken
about her in that language。 Sometimes she sings while at her work；
and we have all been struck with the pure； musical character of her
voice。 It is just such a voice as ought to come from that round
white throat。 We made a discovery about it the other evening。
The Mistress keeps a piano in her room； and we have sometimes had
music in the evening。 One of The Teacups； to whom I have slightly
referred； is an accomplished pianist； and the two Annexes sing very
sweetly together；the American girl having a clear soprano voice；
the English girl a mellow contralto。 They had sung several tunes；
when the Mistress rang for Avis；for that is our Delilah's real
name。 She whispered to the young girl； who blushed and trembled。
〃Don't be frightened；〃 said the Mistress encouragingly。 〃I have
heard you singing 'Too Young for Love；' and I will get our pianist to
play it。 The young ladies both know it； and you must join in。〃
The two voices； with the accompaniment； had hardly finished the first
line when a pure； ringing； almost childlike voice joined the vocal
duet。 The sound of her own voice seemed to make her forget her
fears； and she warbled as naturally and freely as any young bird of a
May morning。 Number Five came in while she was singing； and when she
got through caught her in her arms and kissed her； as if she were her
sister； and not Delilah； our table…maid。 Number Five is apt to
forget herself and those social differences to which some of us
attach so much importance。 This is the song in which the little maid
took part：
TOO YOUNG FOR LOVE。
Too young for love？
Ah； say not so！
Tell reddening rose…buds not to blow！
Wait not for spring to pass away；
Love's summer months begin with May！
Too young for love？
Ah； say not so！
Too young？ Too young？
Ah； no！ no！ no！
Too young for love？
Ah； say not so；
While daisies bloom and tulips glow！
June soon will come with lengthened day
To practise all love learned in May。
Too young for love？
Ah； say not so！
Too young？ Too young？
Ah； no！ no！ no！
IX
I often wish that our Number Seven could have known and corresponded
with the author of 〃The Budget of Paradoxes。〃 I think Mr。 De Morgan
would have found some of his vagaries and fancies not undeserving of
a place in his wonderful collection of eccentricities； absurdities；
ingenuities；mental freaks of all sorts。 But I think he would have
now and then recognized a sound idea； a just comparison； a suggestive
hint； a practical notion； which redeemed a page of extravagances and
crotchety whims。 I confess that I am often pleased with fancies of
his； and should be willing to adopt them as my own。 I think he has；
in the midst of his erratic and tangled conceptions； some perfectly
clear and consistent trains of thought。
So when Number Seven spoke of sending us a paper； I welcomed the
suggestion。 I asked him whether he had any objection to my looking
it over before he read it。 My proposal rather pleased him； I
thought； for； as was observed on a former occasion； he has in
connection with a belief in himself another side；a curious self…
distrust。 I have no question that he has an obscure sense of some
mental deficiency。 Thus you may expect from him first a dogma； and
presently a doubt。 If you fight his dogma； he will do battle for it
stoutly； if you let him alone； he will very probably explain its
extravagances； if it has any； and tame it into reasonable limits。
Sometimes he is in one mood； sometimes in another。
The first portion of what we listened to shows him at his best； in
the latter part I am afraid you will think he gets a little wild。
I proceed to lay before you the paper which Number Seven read to The
Teacups。 There was something very pleasing in the deference which
was shown him。 We all feel that there is a crack in the teacup； and
are disposed to handle it carefully。 I have left out a few things
which he said； feeling that they might give offence to some of the
company。 There were sentences so involved and obscure that I was
sure they would not be understood； if indeed he understood them
himself。 But there are other passages so entirely sane； and as it
seems to me so just； that if any reader attributes them to me I shall
not think myself wronged by the supposition。 You must remember that
Number Seven has had a fair education； that he has been a wide reader
in many directions； and that he belongs to a family of remarkable
intellectual gifts。 So it was not sur
