登陆注册
5227000000188

第188章 CHAPTER THE FORTY-FIFTH. THE FOOT-RACE.(2)

Certain hurdles, which had served to exhibit the present satisfactory state of civilization (in jumping) among the upper classes, were removed. The privileged persons who had duties to perform within the inclosure, looked all round it; and disappeared one after another. A great hush of expectation pervaded the whole assembly. Something of no common interest and importance was evidently about to take place. On a sudden, the silence was broken by a roar of cheering from the mob in the road outside the grounds. People looked at each other excitedly, and said, "One of them has come." The silence prevailed again--and was a second time broken by another roar of applause. People nodded to each other with an air of relief and said, "Both of them have come." Then the great hush fell on the crowd once more, and all eyes looked toward one particular point of the ground, occupied by a little wooden pavilion, with the blinds down over the open windows, and the door closed.

The foreigner was deeply impressed by the silent expectation of the great throng about him. He felt his own sympathies stirred, without knowing why. He believed himself to be on the point of understanding the English people.

Some ceremony of grave importance was evidently in preparation.

Was a great orator going to address the assembly? Was a glorious anniversary to be commemorated? Was a religious service to be performed? He looked round him to apply for information once more. Two gentlemen--who contrasted favorably, so far as refinement of manner was concerned, with most of the spectators present--were slowly making their way, at that moment, through the crowd near him. He respectfully asked what national solemnity was now about to take place. They informed him that a pair of strong young men were going to run round the inclosure for a given number of turns, with the object of ascertaining which could run the fastest of the two.

The foreigner lifted his hands and eyes to heaven. Oh, multifarious Providence! who would have suspected that the infinite diversities of thy creation included such beings as these! With that aspiration, he turned his back on the race-course, and left the place.

On his way out of the grounds he had occasion to use his handkerchief, and found that it was gone. He felt next for his purse. His purse was missing too. When he was back again in his own country, intelligent inquiries were addressed to him on the subject of England. He had but one reply to give. "The whole nation is a mystery to me. Of all the English people I only understand the English thieves!"

In the mean time the two gentlemen, making their way through the crowd, reached a wicket-gate in the fence which surrounded the inclosure.

Presenting a written order to the policeman in charge of the gate, they were forthwith admitted within the sacred precincts The closely packed spectators, regarding them with mixed feelings of envy and curiosity, wondered who they might be. Were they referees appointed to act at the coming race? or reporters for the newspapers? or commissioners of police? They were neither the one nor the other. They were only Mr. Speedwell, the surgeon, and Sir Patrick Lundie.

The two gentlemen walked into the centre of the inclosure, and looked round them.

The grass on which they were standing was girdled by a broad smooth path, composed of finely-sifted ashes and sand--and this again was surrounded by the fence and by the spectators ranked behind it. Above the lines thus formed rose on one side the amphitheatres with their tiers of crowded benches, and on the other the long rows of carriages with the sight-seers inside and out. The evening sun was shining brightly, the light and shade lay together in grand masses, the varied colors of objects blended softly one with the other. It was a splendid and an inspiriting scene.

Sir Patrick turned from the rows of eager faces all round him to his friend the surgeon.

"Is there one person to be found in this vast crowd," he asked, "who has come to see the race with the doubt in his mind which has brought _us_ to see it?"

Mr. Speedwell shook his head. "Not one of them knows or cares what the struggle may cost the men who engage in it."

Sir Patrick looked round him again. "I almost wish I had not come to see it," he said. "If this wretched man--"

The surgeon interposed. "Don't dwell needlessly, Sir Patrick, on the gloomy view," he rejoined. "The opinion I have formed has, thus far, no positive grounds to rest on. I am guessing rightly, as I believe, but at the same time I am guessing in the dark.

Appearances _may_ have misled me. There may be reserves of vital force in Mr. Delamayn's constitution which I don't suspect. I am here to learn a lesson--not to see a prediction fulfilled. I know his health is broken, and I believe he is going to run this race at his own proper peril. Don't feel too sure beforehand of the event. The event may prove me to be wrong."

For the moment Sir Patrick dropped the subject. He was not in his usual spirits.

Since his interview with Anne had satisfied him that she was Geoffrey's lawful wife, the conviction had inevitably forced itself on his mind that the one possible chance for her in the future, was the chance of Geoffrey's death. Horrible as it was to him, he had been possessed by that one idea--go where he might, do what he might, struggle as he might to force his thoughts in other directions. He looked round the broad ashen path on which the race was to be run, conscious that he had a secret interest in it which it was unutterably repugnant to him to feel. He tried to resume the conversation with his friend, and to lead it to other topics. The effort was useless. In despite of himself, he returned to the one fatal subject of the struggle that was now close at hand.

"How many times must they go round this inclosure," he inquired, "before the race is ended?"

Mr. Speedwell turned toward a gentleman who was approaching them at the moment. "Here is somebody coming who can tell us," he said.

"You know him?"

"He is one of my patients."

同类推荐
  • 水战兵法辑佚

    水战兵法辑佚

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 县笥琐探摘抄

    县笥琐探摘抄

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 八识规矩直解

    八识规矩直解

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 達海叢書·附錄

    達海叢書·附錄

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 莅政摘要

    莅政摘要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 郊庙歌辞 德明兴圣

    郊庙歌辞 德明兴圣

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 第二十五孝图

    第二十五孝图

    一对青色的裤管在赵长江面前的风里晃晃荡荡,裤子是穿了多年的裤子,受力最多处的纱缝已经磨得难分经纬;不是裤管做得太大,而是父亲的脚腿明显枯瘦了许多,该被年龄吸去的脂肪和肌肉都被吸走了,所以,脚腿就像枯枝一样把裤管反衬得多余了不少。父亲坐在赵长江和哥哥自制的竹轿上被一步一步地抬高。每抬高一步,一股凉风就在赵长江的汗珠上抖动一下,抚摸一下,夹在竹轿中间的木椅子也就和竹竿磨蹭出一声互不相让的怪叫,那怪叫像被卡住喉咙的鸭子做出的挣扎。这声音虽不好听,但能让父亲一步一步地升高。
  • 星期一没有什么故事可说

    星期一没有什么故事可说

    《星期一没有什么故事可说》是苏先生“星期”系列文学第一部,此系列集中展示苏先生的文学地理版图,从苏庄到集镇到洛城。主旨展示人们和生活之间,总存在着一种古老的仪式性的敌意。
  • 网游之机械时代

    网游之机械时代

    重生一世,北溪回到游戏做起了萌萌哒的机械师小萝莉。双枪重炮,人形萝莉召唤兽,霸气的黄金加特林...一人颠覆整个时代。“我要重现机械师的辉煌。”这是机械的时代,亦是你们的时代。----致所有的机械师玩家!PS:求各种推荐票各种收藏各种打赏各种票票....
  • 神医宠夫,邪王要乖

    神医宠夫,邪王要乖

    一朝穿越,成了大陆第一废柴,区区姨娘庶妹敢欺她辱她,待她生灵根,契约兽,逆袭绝代风华。某女趴在某男身上"有人向我提亲,怎么办?"某男一个翻身,压倒某女"那人有我帅吗?"某女一脸呆萌的摇了摇头。"那就直接轰出去。"某女一脸苦恼的看着某男"没人娶我了,怎么办?"某男邪魅一笑,当日霸气向天下昭言"我娶"
  • 狼性商鉴

    狼性商鉴

    狼非常有耐性。在生物进化过程中,不少种类的动物濒临灭绝,而狼家族却繁衍生息,日益庞大。究其原因,这与狼生存和捕食时超人的耐性密不可分。如果想成为一个成功的商人,就要学习狼的耐性,懂得“大机会往往蕴藏在大忍耐之中”的道理,做事要有耐心,有坚韧不拔的毅力,把忍耐当成智慧的选择,当成磨练意志的工具。
  • 人质

    人质

    下午三点,队长一头扎进来,促忙促急道:准备出发,有任务!他一杯热茶刚冲好,才抿了一口,就喷了出来,喷出来的还有嚼在唇齿之间的茶叶沫子。队长出去之后,很快,院子里的几辆警车发动了,警灯呼啸,闪烁着红蓝相间的光环。几乎同时,他已经脱下制服,换上迷彩,戴上钢盔,腰间配上国产NZ85B型手枪。瞬间,一把95式5.8毫米步枪也呼啦一声勒紧了肩窝。他是本大队的最佳射手之一,创造过步枪十发九十八环?手枪十发九十六环的纪录。是不是从那次省厅首长来观战演习他迭创佳绩开始的?在狙击手编队中他名列第一,简称一号。
  • 搞定冷血未婚夫

    搞定冷血未婚夫

    你终于出现了,在我还没有癫狂的时候。那一年,她与他擦肩而过……那一年,她成为他的未婚妻……那一年,她与他天各一方……那一年,她与他执子之手,与子偕老……你在,我在,请来我怀里,或者,我住进你的心里……柳絮从来都不觉得自己是一个多么长情的人,除了对安乐……等了七年,再等五年,他的前半段人生,都在等安乐,有人为他值得吗?他不说话……在见到安乐的时候,柳絮觉得值得,什么都值得……
  • 安全健康教育综合读本6

    安全健康教育综合读本6

    《安全健康教育综合读本6》心理健康健康的概念古而有之。最初,人们所说的健康是指身体健康,强调身体没有缺陷和疾病。随着社会的发展和科学技术的进步,人们对身体的认识不断深化,从而深刻地意识到人体是生理与心理的统一体。心理健康是健康概念中不可分割的组成部分。1946年在第三届国际心理卫生大会上,心理健康被界定为:“心理健康是指在身体、智能以及情感上与他人的心理不相矛盾的范围内,将个人心境发展成最佳的状态。”这个定义强调如果一个人与其他人比较,符合同年龄阶段大多数人的心理发展水平,那么这个人的心理状态就是健康的,反之就是不健康的。
  • The Story of Doctor Dolittle

    The Story of Doctor Dolittle

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。