登陆注册
5291800000010

第10章

"The boy feels a little sick, but I guess he'll get over it by-and by. Haven't you got a little soup that you can give him? I reckon he's faint, and that'll brighten him up."

Paul evidently did not think so, for he motioned away a bowl of the delightful mixture, though it was proffered him by the fair hands of Mrs. Mudge. The lady was somewhat surprised, and said, roughly, "I shouldn't wonder if he was only trying to shirk."

This was too much even for Mr. Mudge; "The boy's sick," said he, "that's plain enough; if he don't get better soon, I must send for the doctor, for work drives, and I can't spare him."

"There's no more danger of his being sick than mine," said Mrs. Mudge, emphatically; "however, if you're fool enough to go for a doctor, that's none of my business. I've heard of feigning sickness before now, to get rid of work. As to his being pale, I've been as pale as that myself sometimes without your troubling yourself very much about me."

"'Twon't be any expense to us," alleged Mr. Mudge, in a tone of justification, for he felt in some awe of his wife's temper, which was none of the mildest when a little roused, "'Twon't be any expense to us; the town has got to pay for it, and as long as it will get him ready for work sooner, we might as well take advantage of it."

This consideration somewhat reconciled Mrs. Mudge to the step proposed, and as Paul, instead of getting better, grew rapidly worse, Mr. Mudge thought it expedient to go immediately for the village physician. Luckily Dr. Townsend was at home, and an hour afterwards found him standing beside the sick boy.

"I don't know but you'll think it rather foolish, our sending for you, doctor," said Mrs. Mudge, "but Mudge would have it that the boy was sick and so he went for you."

"And he did quite right," said Dr. Townsend, noticing the ghastly pallor of Paul's face. "He is a very sick boy, and if I had not been called I would not have answered for the consequences. How do you feel, my boy?" he inquired of Paul.

"I feel very weak, and my head swims," was the reply.

"How and when did this attack come on?" asked the doctor, turning to Mr. Mudge.

"He was taken while hoeing in the field," was the reply.

"Have you kept him at work much there lately?"

"Well, yes, I've been drove by work, and he has worked there all day latterly."

"At what time has he gone to work in the morning?"

"He has got up to milk the cows about five o'clock.

I used to do it, but since he has learned, I have indulged myself a little."

"It would have been well for him if he had enjoyed the same privilege. It is my duty to speak plainly.

The sickness of this boy lies at your door. He has never been accustomed to hard labor, and yet you have obliged him to rise earlier and work later than most men.

No wonder he feels weak. Has he a good appetite?"

"Well, rather middlin'," said Mrs. Mudge, "but it's mainly because he's too dainty to eat what's set before him.

Why, only the first day he was here he turned up his nose at the bread and soup we had for dinner."

"Is this a specimen of the soup?" asked Dr. Townsend, taking from the table the bowl which had been proffered to Paul and declined by him.

Without ceremony he raised to his lips a spoonful of the soup and tasted it with a wry face.

"Do you often have this soup on the table?" he asked abruptly.

"We always have it once a day, and sometimes twice," returned Mrs. Mudge.

"And you call the boy dainty because he don't relish such stuff as this?" said the doctor, with an indignation he did not attmpt to conceal. "Why, I wouldn't be hired to take the contents of that bowl. It is as bad as any of my own medicines, and that's saying a good deal. How much nourishment do you suppose such a mixture would afford? And yet with little else to sustain him you have worked this boy like a beast of burden,--worse even, for they at least have abundance of GOOD food."

Mr. and Mrs. Mudge both winced under this plain speaking, but they did not dare to give expression to their anger, for they knew well that Dr. Townsend was an influential man in town, and, by representing the affair in the proper quarter, might render their hold upon their present post a very precarious one.

Mr. Mudge therefore contented himself with muttering that he guessed he worked as hard as anybody, and he didn't complain of his fare.

"May I ask you, Mr. Mudge," said the doctor, fixing his penetrating eye full upon him,"whether you confine yourself to the food upon which you have kept this boy?"

"Well," said Mr. Mudge, in some confusion, moving uneasily in his seat,"I can't say but now and then I eat something a little different."

"Do you eat at the same table with the inmates of your house?"

"Well, no," said the embarrassed Mr. Mudge.

"Tell me plainly,--how often do you partake of this soup?"

"I aint your patient," said the man, sullenly, "Why should you want to know what I eat?"

"I have an object in view. Are you afraid to answer?"

"I don't know as there's anything to be afraid of.

The fact is, I aint partial to soup; it don't agree with me, and so I don't take it."

"Did you ever consider that this might be the case with others as well as yourself?" inquired the doctor with a glance expressive of his contempt for Mr. Mudge's selfishness. Without waiting for a reply, Dr. Townsend ordered Paul to be put to bed immediately, after which he would leave some medicine for him to take.

Here was another embarassment for the worthy couple.

同类推荐
  • 萨天锡逸诗永和本

    萨天锡逸诗永和本

    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。
  • Wolfville

    Wolfville

    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。
  • The Tapestried Chamber

    The Tapestried Chamber

    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。
  • 灵宝净明大法万道玉章秘诀

    灵宝净明大法万道玉章秘诀

    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。
  • 佛说净业障经

    佛说净业障经

    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
  • 蝴蝶蓝(第三季):落跑小郡主

    蝴蝶蓝(第三季):落跑小郡主

    娇憨可爱的李无忧是陇西王府的小郡主,父母和兄长宠爱她如掌上明珠,日子过得十分安逸。然而好景不长,机缘巧合之下,她发现自己不但不是王爷夫妇的亲骨肉,还会在紧急情况下变身毛茸茸、胖乎乎的白狼。人哉?妖哉?娇贵郡主一夜之间沦落为废柴妖怪,还被腹黑兄长起名“二狗子”,打发去冷宫看大门……冷宫的日子清冷却也闲适,直到某日一位高贵冷艳的少年私闯王府。他自称大理寺暗部的刺客,奉命带无忧去神都洛阳调查一件神秘悬案,无忧郡主的崭新人生就此揭开!九鼎神器、狐狸美人、地下鬼城、无面人偶……疑点重重,谁才是幕后真凶?
  • 一等庶女,嫁值千金

    一等庶女,嫁值千金

    伸手不见五指的漆黑深夜,她的惨叫划破长空,伴随着孩童啼泣!心心念念的结发夫君,情如手足的‘善心’嫡姐,却是将她推入地狱的操刀刽子手。她亡……受尽凌辱。冰凉的房里是几名彪形大汉残淫的喘息和咒骂声,她的孩子本该是高高在上的睿王世子,如今却被人只手捏断颈骨,出世则亡……庶女重生,她索命归来。那些伤她害她的人,她一个也不打算放过。深宅大院,危机四伏,一步走错,便有可能长睡不起。她是袁府小小的庶女,亦是世人嘴里惊才绝艳的女中诸葛。同一张面容,同一副皮囊,重生后,却是桃花四处开,她想避也避不开。——什么皇权贵胄都靠边站,本姑娘不畏皇权,不喜富贵,不贪虚名!只是,这一只、二只、三只……后面的那些笑得像八百年没近过女色的皇子、公子们,请你们立正向后转,本姑娘哪里啃得下这么多?但是……(沉思苦想中)正所谓,食色,性也!最妖孽的那位留下,吃多了素食,偶尔开开荤,其实也不错!只是……只是……为毛被吃干抹净的人却是她?“娘子,为夫美么?”某妖孽笑得像只狐狸,双眼放光,手脚并用,还不忘伸出舌头……呃……妖孽啊……某女长叹一声,鼻血直流!——^^正剧版:上一世,视她为草芥的人,这一世是这样的:“锦心,我愿与你携手这江山,你做皇后我便是皇上,你若不要,我便陪你浪迹天涯……”上一世,连正眼都未瞧过她的人,这一世是这样的:“锦心,我以这江山为聘,天地神灵为媒,此生此世,只娶你一人……”上一世,处处打压她的人,这一世是这样的:“锦心,我知你不喜这深宅大院的尔虞我诈,跟我走吧,我经商,你守财,我生火,你做饭,这种生活,可好?”——抽风版:说白了,这是一个一无是处的懦弱庶女重生翻身的故事。什么?以皇后的宝座诱惑她?切……皇后的那个印能卖多少钱?值一百两么?什么?无价之宝……某女摸着尖尖的小下巴,大眼珠滴溜溜的乱转起来,嘴边荡起一丝猥琐的笑:“可以考虑……”——女主不会聪明、强大到天下无敌,也不似云中仙子般善良慈悲,总之一句话,人不犯我,我不犯人,人若犯我,我必十倍偿还(捂嘴奸笑中……)。至于男主……呃,猜猜我是谁!嘻嘻!
  • 爱美的小蜻蜓

    爱美的小蜻蜓

    《少儿奇幻童话寓言故事精品集:爱美的小蜻蜓》是作者从近年来创作的作品中精选汇编而成的,适合青少年朋友阅读。这些短小精悍的寓言故事,不仅引领你插上想象的翅膀,在美妙的文学世界里自由翱翔;还可以让你感悟到深刻的哲理,找到许多生活的答案。
  • 推理门徒之恋曲1990

    推理门徒之恋曲1990

    一幅被盗的油画“就是这个了?”周帆回头问道。作为这次事件的委托人,西城最著名的画商王安意只能无奈地点头:“你要求看的昨晚录像就是这个了。”他语气中透着笃定,没有一点受害者的样子。王安意今年五十三岁,在中国,这个年龄算是已经步入老年人的范畴了,可如果不看他花白的头发,任谁都只会认为他只有四十岁左右。王安意是西城公认的最成功的商人之一,名下的洗砚阁在世界各地都有分管,每年的营业额说出来就足以让人对眼前的老人肃然起敬。
  • 太清玉司左院秘要上法

    太清玉司左院秘要上法

    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。
  • 灯火燃起

    灯火燃起

    只需要点亮一盏灯火,你就可以得到你想要的,你以为会有很大的改变,不过其实没有什么改变。
  • 一位CEO给青少年的礼物(你在为谁读书系列)

    一位CEO给青少年的礼物(你在为谁读书系列)

    你在为谁读书,现在似乎很少有人觉得这会是个问题,在新的时代环境下,我们不妨抽时间问一问自己这个问题,本书作者,一位CEO,鉴于自己从平凡到优秀再到卓越的历程,对国内的青少年如何在学生时代就开始培养自己成为卓越者所需要的潜能给出了规划和答案,《你在为谁读书:一位CEO给青少年的礼物》2006年出版以来,畅销60万册,深受读者好评,这份送给青少年的礼物,使许多读者的人生发生了转折,也让许多家长对自己的孩子重新燃起了希望。
  • 梦魇天祭

    梦魇天祭

    徐乾是一名知名医生,而面对一个衰老综合症的患者,却无能为力。本故事从一个病例开始,引发往事与恐怖经历……
  • 飞越盲区

    飞越盲区

    七十年代末,一群青年男女走进了军营,笼罩在他们头顶的仍是那片盲区。他们为各自的理想努力着,然而他们却陷入了生活的盲区,他们追寻着、沉浮着……这方充满魔幻的盲区,使他们迷惘、困惑,然而,他们并不甘心沉沦,他们用青春和生命为代价,寻找着生活的座标。小说以父子飞行员前赴后继不屈不挠地奋力穿越地域和人生的“盲区”为主要线索,赞颂了两代军人一往无前的英雄主义品格,在空灵的艺术风格中寄意遥深。
  • 好形象,好前程

    好形象,好前程

    调查显示,大多数人事主管会在十分钟内对应聘者进行印象考核。而且,97.2%的人事主管承认,应聘者的音像可能会或肯定会对自己的招聘录用决策产生影响。头发在人事主管形成的印象中具有重要影响,男性秃发者在争取人事主管的印象分数时甚至不如留长发者。有位资历颇深的行销专家淳淳告诫涉足行销界的同仁们:在行销产业中,懂得形象包装,给人以良好的印象者,将是永远的赢家。人都是重“感觉”的,印象往往决定未来的发展关系。如果在双方初次见面时,留下的是负面的第一印象,那么,即使你的专业再强,你的个性或能力再好,也很难再有证明的机会了。相反,如果你给顾客留下美好的第一印象,你就有机会施展你的才华了。