登陆注册
5382100000080

第80章 CHAPTER XIX(2)

"As you cannot remember this of yourself, I must give you a little pain to make you remember it. I am sorry it is necessary, and that you cannot recollect without my doing so." But before he had reached this very proper and desirable conclusion, and while he was yet working his way, his heart aching with the terrified look of the child at the solemnly sad face and words of upbraiding, Sally burst in-- "And what may ye be going to do with that fine switch I saw ye gathering, Master Thurstan?" asked she, her eyes gleaming with anger at the answer she knew must come, if answer she had at all. "Go away, Sally," said Mr. Benson, annoyed at the fresh difficulty in his path. "I'll not stir never a step till you give me that switch, as you've got for some mischief, I'll be bound." "Sally! remember where it is said, 'He that spareth the rod, spoileth the child,'" said Mr. Benson austerely. "Ay, I remember; and I remember a bit more than you want me to remember, I reckon. It were King Solomon as spoke them words, and it were King Solomon's son that were King Rehoboam, and no great shakes either. I can remember what is said on him, 2 Chronicles, xii. chapter, 14th v.: 'And he'--that's King Rehoboam, the lad that tasted the rod--'did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord.' I've not been reading my chapters every night for fifty year to be caught napping by a Dissenter, neither!" said she triumphantly. "Come along, Leonard." She stretched out her hand to the child, thinking that she had conquered. But Leonard did not stir. He looked wistfully at Mr. Benson. "Come!" said she impatiently. The boy's mouth quivered. "If you want to whip me, uncle, you may do it. I don't much mind." Put in this form, it was impossible to carry out his intentions; and so Mr. Benson told the lad he might go--that he would speak to him another time. Leonard went away, more subdued in spirit than if he had been whipped.

Sally lingered a moment. She stopped to add: "I think it's for them without sin to throw stones at a poor child, and cut up good laburnum-branches to whip him. I only do as my betters do, when I call Leonard's mother Mrs.

Denbigh."The moment she had said this she was sorry; it was an ungenerous advantage after the enemy had acknowledged himself defeated. Mr. Benson dropped his head upon his hands and bid his face, and sighed deeply. Leonard flew in search of his mother, as in search of a refuge. If he had found her calm, he would have burst into a passion of crying after his agitation; as it was, he came upon her kneeling and sobbing, and he stood quite still. Then he threw his arms round her neck, and said, "Mamma! mamma!

I will be good--I make a promise; I will speak true--I make a promise."And he kept his word. Miss Benson piqued herself upon being less carried away by her love for this child than any one else in the house; she talked severely, and had capital theories; but her severity ended in talk, and her theories would not work. However, she read several books on education, knitting socks for Leonard all the while; and, upon the whole, I think, the hands were more usefully employed than the head, and the good honest heart better than either. She looked older than when we first knew her, but it was a ripe, kindly age that was coming over her. Her excellent practical sense, perhaps, made her a more masculine character than her brother. He was often so much perplexed by the problems of life, that he let the time for action go by; but she kept him in check by her clear, pithy talk, which brought back his wandering thoughts to the duty that lay straight before him, waiting for action; and then he remembered that it was the faithful part to "wait patiently upon God," and leave the ends in His hands, who alone knows why Evil exists in this world, and why it ever hovers on either side of Good.

In this respect, Miss Benson had more faith than her brother--or so it seemed; for quick, resolute action in the next step of Life was all she required, while he deliberated and trembled, and often did wrong from his very deliberation, when his first instinct would have led him right. But, although decided and prompt as ever, Miss Benson was grown older since the summer afternoon when she dismounted from the coach at the foot of the long Welsh hill that led to Llan-dhu, where her brother awaited her to consult her about Ruth. Though her eye was as bright and straight-looking as ever, quick and brave in its glances, her hair had become almost snowy white; and it was on this point she consulted Sally, soon after the date of Leonard's last untruth. The two were arranging Miss Benson's room one morning, when, after dusting the looking-glass, she suddenly stopped in her operation, and after a close inspection of herself, startled Sally by this speech-- "Sally! I'm looking a great deal older than I used to do!" Sally, who was busy dilating on the increased price of flour, considered this remark of Miss Benson's as strangely irrelevant to the matter in hand, and only noticed it by a-- "To be sure! I suppose we all on us do. But two-and-fourpence a dozen is too much to make us pay for it." Miss Benson went on with her inspection of herself, and Sally with her economical projects. "Sally!" said Miss Benson, "my hair is nearly white. The last time I looked it was only pepper-and-salt. What must I do?" "Do--why, what would the wench do?" asked Sally contemptuously. "Ye're never going to be taken in, at your time of life, by hair-dyes and such gimcracks, as can only take in young girls whose wisdom-teeth are not cut." "And who are not very likely to want them," said Miss Benson quietly. "No!

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 吞噬苍穹

    吞噬苍穹

    他是一个无父无母的孤儿,少年时便受尽磨难,为改变命运他坚毅的踏上修炼之路,终力压八荒,四夷臣服,成就一代人皇!吞噬无尽的欲望,踏破苍穹,唯我独尊。等级制度:斗者炼皮、斗士炼肉、斗师炼骨、斗灵炼脉、斗狂炼髓、斗王炼五脏、斗宗炼血、斗皇炼窍、斗帝万窍归一凝练斗丹、斗仙……
  • 该死的无限流

    该死的无限流

    厉鬼索命,丧尸来袭,电锯收魂,无穷无尽的黑暗从宇宙深处散发出来。被称为造梦空间的地方孕育着惊人的秘密。然而,最恐怖并不是他们,而是会针对试炼者的系统!“嘤嘤嘤,您这次冒险所收获的奖励点扣除百分之八十,谢谢惠顾么么哒!”庄星彦:“…?!”
  • 千古情愁一线缘

    千古情愁一线缘

    记忆中他的样子,他的声音都没有改变,她带着前世的记忆重生,可是爱,真的一直不曾离开过吗?他对她的是真爱还是一场彻头彻尾的阴谋?不到最后,谁能为她解疑答惑…
  • 殖民统治时期的印度史

    殖民统治时期的印度史

    《殖民统治时期的印度史》论述印度从开始遭受殖民侵略到最后获得独立的历史。本书着重说明英国统治在给印度带来巨大灾难的同时,怎样不自觉地导致了印度社会的巨大变革,启动了现代化进程;英国统治怎样促成印度一种新的经济和政治力量的兴起,这种力量如何成长壮大,如何积极参与促进印度发展并最后迫使英国交出政权。本书的突出特点是,坚持实事求是原则,从印度国情出发研究印度,对一系列重大问题,如殖民主义双重愈来愈的实现、殖民统治与印度现代的启动、非暴力不合作道路的作用、甘地与国大党的关系、下层人民在民族斗争中的地位、教派主义兴起和发展的缘由、英国在印巴分治中的作用和印度独立的历史意义等,都提出了自己的新见解。
  • 在世界另一边的你

    在世界另一边的你

    那些年陆之言对叶展颜说的情话我依稀记得,每晚叶展颜躲在被子下面和陆之言通话,撒娇的语气还有陆之言对他说的“晚安”。我都会很羡慕叶展颜,她有全世界最好的陆之言。陆之言会在叶展颜经期那几天每天照顾她,会在她最难过的时候抱着他安慰她会在她最失意的时候对她说“我养你啊傻瓜”。叶展颜在陆之言面前永远不用装,她的一举一动陆之言都知道他想要什么不想要什么。陆之言爱叶展颜全世界都知道。
  • 烈火战狼

    烈火战狼

    他像一只冬天中的狼,机智勇猛,见到猎物一击必杀,勇往无前。他的部队传承着他的灵魂,战场上日寇听见他们的名字闻风丧胆,在他的带领着多次完成各种任务。他的名字叫―雪狼
  • 你放得下而我却放不下

    你放得下而我却放不下

    在初一与金相遇,接下来金带给莹喜、怒、哀、乐。……与金相遇有好有坏,但还是庆幸吧!金马上毕业了,与金相见的时间不多了。莹只能珍惜与金的一点一滴。……
  • 夕朝谋

    夕朝谋

    新春佳节,阖家团圆。灵德公主却因母族谋逆成为皇室弃女,幽禁终生。掉包计,假借名。盛兴吴府小姐暂住安阳,一切才刚刚开始。真真假假,虚虚实实。退无可退之际,且看她如何在混沌中,谋出一片清明。
  • 容忍与自由

    容忍与自由

    本书所选篇目展现了胡适深刻、犀利的思想观点,也侧面展现了他在纷繁时事中的人格魅力。涵盖其从青年至晚年的各类文章,读者也可从中发现他思想上的转变,特别是“容忍与自由”,胡适年岁月大,越觉得“容忍比自由还更重要”。由于涵盖面广,内容丰富,使得本书的可读性大大提升。这些白话演讲和文章都十分浅显易懂,展现了胡适的睿智,使读者了解胡适思想的同时,能帮助读者理解那时学术界的状态,了解当时的世界和中国。在本书中,我们不仅能看到一位侃侃而谈的智者,也可以从他谈话的内容中,体会对加家国的热爱,以及胡适对民主和自由的坚持。
  • 仙皇临九天

    仙皇临九天

    一念不死,你将神魂不灭!于是韩非开始了各种花样作死。无敌仙王,盖世道尊我统统都不怕。瞅你咋地了?我还惹你呢!抢仙女,偷神药,炸福地,杀圣子!你们不服就来弄死我啊!弄不死我?嘿嘿,你完蛋了!