villa rubein and other stories-第69章

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Scorrier　wished　him　luck　with　a　very　heavy　heart。



As　an　unsentimental　man；　who　had　a　proper　horror　of　emotion；　whose

living　depended　on　his　good　sense；　to　look　back　on　that　interview

with　the　Board　was　painful。　　It　had　excited　in　him　a　rage　of　which　he

was　now　heartily　ashamed。　　Old　Jolyon　Forsyte；　the　chairman；　was　not

there　for　once；　guessing　perhaps　that　the　Board's　view　of　this　death

would　be　too　small　for　him；　and　little　Mr。　Booker　sat　in　his　place。

Every　one　had　risen；　shaken　hands　with　Scorrier；　and　expressed

themselves　indebted　for　his　coming。　　Scorrier　placed　Pippin's　letter

on　the　table；　and　gravely　the　secretary　read　out　to　his　Board　the

last　words　of　their　superintendent。　　When　he　had　finished；　a　director

said；　〃That's　not　the　letter　of　a　madman！〃　　Another　answered：　〃Mad　as

a　hatter；　nobody　but　a　madman　would　have　thrown　up　such　a　post。〃

Scorrier　suddenly　withdrew。　　He　heard　Hemmings　calling　after　him。

〃Aren't　you　well；　Mr。　Scorrier？　　aren't　you　well；　sir？〃



He　shouted　back：　〃Quite　sane；　I　thank　you。。。。



The　Naples　〃express〃　rolled　round　the　outskirts　of　the　town。

Vesuvius　shone　in　the　sun；　uncrowned　by　smoke。　　But　even　as　Scorrier

looked；　a　white　puff　went　soaring　up。　　It　was　the　footnote　to　his

memories。



February　1901。











End