登陆注册
5393100000124

第124章

I fell ill. It must have been some time in April, but I kept no count of days. Nobody came near me, nobody knew of me. I occupied a room at the top of a huge block of workmen's dwellings. A woman who kept a second-hand store had lent me for a shilling a week a few articles of furniture. Lying upon my chair-bedstead, I listened to the shrill sounds around me, that through the light and darkness never ceased. A pint of milk, left each morning on the stone landing, kept me alive.

I would wait for the man's descending footsteps, then crawl to the door. I hoped I was going to die, regretting my returning strength, the desire for food that drove me out into the streets again.

One night, a week or two after my partial recovery, I had wandered on and on for hour after hour. The breaking dawn recalled me to myself.

I was outside the palings of a park. In the faint shadowy light it looked strange and unfamiliar. I was too tired to walk further. I scrambled over the low wooden fencing, and reaching a seat, dropped down and fell asleep.

I was sitting in a sunny avenue; birds were singing joyously, bright flowers were all around me. Norah was beside me, her frank, sweet eyes were looking into mine; they were full of tenderness, mingled with wonder. It was a delightful dream: I felt myself smiling.

Suddenly I started to my feet. Norah's strong hand drew me down again.

I was in the broad walk, Regent's Park, where, I remembered, Norah often walked before breakfast. A park-keeper, the only other human creature within sight, was eyeing me suspiciously. I saw myself--without a looking-glass--unkempt, ragged. My intention was to run, but Norah was holding me by the arm. Savagely I tried to shake her off. I was weak from my recent illness, and, I suppose, half starved; it angered me to learn she was the stronger of the two. In spite of my efforts, she dragged me back.

Ashamed of my weakness, ashamed of everything about me, I burst into tears; and that of course made me still more ashamed. To add to my discomfort, I had no handkerchief. Holding me with one hand--it was quite sufficient--Norah produced her own, and wiped my eyes. The park-keeper, satisfied, I suppose, that at all events I was not dangerous, with a grin passed on.

"Where have you been, and what have you been doing?" asked Norah. She still retained her grip upon me, and in her grey eyes was quiet determination.

So, with my face turned away from her, I told her the whole miserable story, taking strange satisfaction in exaggerating, if anything, my own share of the disgrace. My recital ended, I sat staring down the long, shadow-freckled way, and for awhile there was no sound but the chirping of the sparrows.

Then behind me I beard a smothered laugh. It was impossible to imagine it could come from Norah. I turned quickly to see who had stolen upon us. It was Norah who was laughing; though to do her justice she was trying to suppress it, holding her handkerchief to her face. It was of no use, it would out; she abandoned the struggle, and gave way to it. It astonished the sparrows into silence; they stood in a row upon the low iron border and looked at one another.

"I am glad you think it funny," I said.

"But it is funny," she persisted. "Don't say you have lost your sense of humour, Paul; it was the one real thing you possessed. You were so cocky--you don't know how cocky you were! Everybody was a fool but Vane; nobody else but he appreciated you at your true worth. You and he between you were going to reform the stage, to educate the public, to put everything and everybody to rights. I am awfully sorry for all you've gone through; but now that it is over, can't you see yourself that it is funny?"

同类推荐
  • 名香谱

    名香谱

    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。
  • Ceres' Runaway and Other Essays

    Ceres' Runaway and Other Essays

    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。
  • 折狱龟鉴

    折狱龟鉴

    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。
  • Moon of Israel

    Moon of Israel

    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。
  • 狱中杂记

    狱中杂记

    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
  • 名人传记丛书:斯文·赫定

    名人传记丛书:斯文·赫定

    名人传记丛书——斯文·赫定——掀开楼兰美女面纱的西域骑士:“立足课本,超越课堂”,以提高中小学生的综合素质为目的,让中小学生从课内受益到课外,是一生的良师益友。
  • 画皮师

    画皮师

    曾经的段神玉和花子黎,现今的设乐与莹鹤,画皮隐的去身形却藏不住他们两世的爱恨与深情。
  • 燃火游侠

    燃火游侠

    穿越到不熟悉的游戏世界,林恩只能在烈焰中砥砺前行。魔兽、亡灵、巨人、恶魔……奇异生物接踵而来。密林、群山、海域、雪地……瑰丽景色留下足迹。苍穹的阴影再次来临,不可名状的低语悄然入侵。这是第五纪元,破灭后的神隐时代。长夜将至,邪祟横行!“我将以我手中之炎,开拓前路,焚灭敌人。”
  • 混在大马的日子1

    混在大马的日子1

    出国留学的去向要视留学生的目的而定——公派留学并且将来想成为教授的,英国是最佳选择;想学业有成外加移民的,自然是去美国,澳洲,加拿大;想以留学的名义打工为国家赚取大量外汇给社会主义建设添砖加瓦的,日本是首选;对于想趁着青春年少游山玩水,在自己的生命中留下些甜蜜回忆,再顺便镀层金的中国“游学生”们,风光秀丽的马来西亚实在是个不错的地方。马来西亚最大的私立学院——如来学院(这真的不是一间佛学院!)以‘爱玩’为第一主人公的‘有志青年们’的故事,嬉笑谩骂,待看人生。
  • 法之主宰

    法之主宰

    在天赐帝国的东边,有一座不大的城镇叫布尔城,布尔城北靠布尔森林,因此得名,故事就是从这里开始……
  • 诱人的海洋

    诱人的海洋

    本书介绍了海洋蕴藏的能量和资源,孕育的动物和相关趣事,海底世界的地理奇观和大量宝藏,以及海洋里的许多奇异现象和未解之谜等。
  • 业余教练

    业余教练

    十年后的他,是一家大型医学机构的负责人,各种各样的博士光环,标准的钻石王老五。十年前的现在,他是一个无足轻重的小队医,头顶霉光普照,破屌丝一个。十年时光,一份记忆,一双眼睛,一段传奇……
  • 快穿之甜宠逆袭之旅

    快穿之甜宠逆袭之旅

    萧晓走在回家的路上,意外遭遇追杀,就此绑定了系统。萧晓怀着对美好生活被打碎的满满怨气踏上了逆袭之旅,却不想踏上了一条虐狗之路。PS:本文1v1,甜宠,不虐,男主有金手指。
  • 美人生存手册

    美人生存手册

    亲妈版文案——裴家有女,貌美堪怜,生存之路,举步维艰;活到及笄,亲事登门,婚期临近,怪事频发:无头人夜半叩门,檀木梳午时渗血,菱花镜晨间掠影……还有,她那未曾谋面的夫婿,究竟是人,是鬼?后妈版文案——裴家有女,生得似一朵国色天香的牡丹,名声却臭得烂遍了整个长安,心肠更是毒若蛇蝎,为着区区几个臭钱就逼死了别人一家老小。这样的祸害,怎么就能有名门望族的公子瞧上她,且死活都不肯退亲呢?还有没有天理了!轻微灵异,轻微虐,重在谈情说爱(新人开书,求收藏,么么)
  • 鬼手天医:火爆小妖妃

    鬼手天医:火爆小妖妃

    东方磬璇,她是六界之上,唯一的黑暗破坏神,掌控世间一切丑恶,却成为亲哥哥光明神创世之路上的垫脚石,被众神诛灭。仇恨,让她破灭重生,却必将历经三世劫难,方可重塑神之光环。再度为人,她似流沙沉浮,冷静干练,又似焚天烈火,炙热豪迈,鬼魅般难以捉摸。天生煞骨、毫无战力、众亲叛离,那又如何?凭借一双能识破七情六欲的离魂眼,她便在这强者为尊的世界里混的风声水起,随欲纵狂!