登陆注册
5697600000016

第16章 ACT III(1)

Next morning Broadbent and Larry are sitting at the ends of a breakfast table in the middle of a small grass plot before Cornelius Doyle's house.They have finished their meal,and are buried in newspapers.Most of the crockery is crowded upon a large square black tray of japanned metal.The teapot is of brown delft ware.There is no silver;and the butter,on a dinner plate,is en bloc.The background to this breakfast is the house,a small white slated building,accessible by a half-glazed door.

A person coming out into the garden by this door would find the table straight in front of him,and a gate leading to the road half way down the garden on his right;or,if he turned sharp to his left,he could pass round the end of the house through an unkempt shrubbery.The mutilated remnant of a huge planter statue,nearly dissolved by the rains of a century,and vaguely resembling a majestic female in Roman draperies,with a wreath in her hand,stands neglected amid the laurels.Such statues,though apparently works of art,grow naturally in Irish gardens.Their germination is a mystery to the oldest inhabitants,to whose means and taste they are totally foreign.

There is a rustic bench,much roiled by the birds,and decorticated and split by the weather,near the little gate.At the opposite side,a basket lies unmolested because it might as well be there as anywhere else.An empty chair at the table was lately occupied by Cornelius,who has finished his breakfast and gone in to the room in which he receives rents and keeps his books and cash,known in the household as "the office."This chair,like the two occupied by Larry and Broadbent,has a mahogany frame and is upholstered in black horsehair.

Larry rises and goes off through the shrubbery with his newspaper.Hodson comes in through the garden gate,disconsolate.

Broadbent,who sits facing the gate,augurs the worst from his expression.

BROADBENT.Have you been to the village?

HODSON.No use,sir.We'll have to get everything from London by parcel post.

BROADBENT.I hope they made you comfortable last night.

HODSON.I was no worse than you were on that sofa,sir.One expects to rough it here,sir.

BROADBENT.We shall have to look out for some other arrangement.

[Cheering up irrepressibly]Still,it's no end of a joke.How do you like the Irish,Hodson?

HODSON.Well,sir,they're all right anywhere but in their own country.I've known lots of em in England,and generally liked em.But here,sir,I seem simply to hate em.The feeling come over me the moment we landed at Cork,sir.It's no use my pretendin,sir:I can't bear em.My mind rises up agin their ways,somehow:they rub me the wrong way all over.

BROADBENT.Oh,their faults are on the surface:at heart they are one of the finest races on earth.[Hodson turns away,without affecting to respond to his enthusiasm].By the way,Hodson--HODSON [turning].Yes,sir.

BROADBENT.Did you notice anything about me last night when Icame in with that lady?

HODSON [surprised].No,sir.

BROADBENT.Not any--er--?You may speak frankly.

HODSON.I didn't notice nothing,sir.What sort of thing ded you mean,sir?

BROADBENT.Well--er--er--well,to put it plainly,was I drunk?

HODSON [amazed].No,sir.

BROADBENT.Quite sure?

HODSON.Well,I should a said rather the opposite,sir.Usually when you've been enjoying yourself,you're a bit hearty like.

Last night you seemed rather low,if anything.

BROADBENT.I certainly have no headache.Did you try the pottine,Hodson?

HODSON.I just took a mouthful,sir.It tasted of peat:oh!

something horrid,sir.The people here call peat turf.Potcheen and strong porter is what they like,sir.I'm sure I don't know how they can stand it.Give me beer,I say.

BROADBENT.By the way,you told me I couldn't have porridge for breakfast;but Mr Doyle had some.

HODSON.Yes,sir.Very sorry,sir.They call it stirabout,sir:

that's how it was.They know no better,sir.

BROADBENT.All right:I'll have some tomorrow.

Hodson goes to the house.When he opens the door he finds Nora and Aunt Judy on the threshold.He stands aside to let them pass,with the air of a well trained servant oppressed by heavy trials.

Then he goes in.Broadbent rises.Aunt Judy goes to the table and collects the plates and cups on the tray.Nora goes to the back of the rustic seat and looks out at the gate with the air of a woman accustomed to have nothing to do.Larry returns from the shrubbery.

BROADBENT.Good morning,Miss Doyle.

AUNT JUDY [thinking it absurdly late in the day for such a salutation].Oh,good morning.[Before moving his plate]Have you done?

BROADBENT.Quite,thank you.You must excuse us for not waiting for you.The country air tempted us to get up early.

AUNT JUDY.N d'ye call this airly,God help you?

LARRY.Aunt Judy probably breakfasted about half past six.

AUNT JUDY.Whisht,you!--draggin the parlor chairs out into the gardn n givin Mr Broadbent his death over his meals out here in the cold air.[To Broadbent]Why d'ye put up with his foolishness,Mr Broadbent?

BROADBENT.I assure you I like the open air.

AUNT JUDY.Ah galong!How can you like what's not natural?I hope you slept well.

NORA.Did anything wake yup with a thump at three o'clock?Ithought the house was falling.But then I'm a very light sleeper.

LARRY.I seem to recollect that one of the legs of the sofa in the parlor had a way of coming out unexpectedly eighteen years ago.Was that it,Tom?

BROADBENT [hastily].Oh,it doesn't matter:I was not hurt--at least--er--AUNT JUDY.Oh now what a shame!An I told Patsy Farrll to put a nail in it.

BROADBENT.He did,Miss Doyle.There was a nail,certainly.

AUNT JUDY.Dear oh dear!

同类推荐
  • 孟夏纪

    孟夏纪

    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。
  • 经学历史

    经学历史

    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。
  • 白香词谱

    白香词谱

    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。
  • Mr. Gladstone and Genesis

    Mr. Gladstone and Genesis

    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。
  • 太虛心淵篇

    太虛心淵篇

    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
  • 农门枭妃

    农门枭妃

    【新文《深爷每天都在被嫌弃》贵不可言,不近女色的君家家主,最近却开始撩妹了?听说还是费了九牛二虎之力才让自己不被嫌弃,成功上了位。对象却是土不啦叽的乡下孤儿。但是那一个个的马甲掉下来惊呆了众人。然而,最大的马甲竟然是一个小奶娃……】家徒四壁,无米下锅,远远不到贫穷的最高境界。宁子柒穿越了,不知道是老天爷对她的惩罚还是奖励,现代杀手之王变成了奄奄一息的农家女儿。这家人也刷新了她对苦日子的认知,全家一无所有的被赶出来,暂住的破茅屋五面透风,别人家是穷的揭不开锅,而她们是根本没!有!锅!渣渣亲气死父亲,还为将她们变成白花花的银子而不择手段,比狠?那她就让她们被银子扎烂了那黑心。不是想过好日子吗?那她就让那些人永远都是看得见得不着,看她们日日挠心抓肺。面对绝望的老娘,悲戚的大姐,年幼的小弟,宁子柒表示毫无压力,她们给她弥足珍贵的亲情,她就保她们一世无忧。杀手之王是她,美食博主是她,这里的农家女也是她,以后富甲天下的女富豪也是她。种田,赚钱,两不误,谁让她有逆天的金手指呢!
  • 倾世王妃:斗智腹黑王爷

    倾世王妃:斗智腹黑王爷

    君洛身为中医世家的家主,顶尖医术,一根银针,活死人肉白骨!几年前的意外穿越,让自己成为了同名同姓而且还同容貌的相府千金身上!没事!她不怕!后来被皇帝赐婚给了花名远扬又战功赫赫的七王爷?没事,她不怕!别人穿越斗智其他一些乱七八糟的女人!她穿越斗智腹黑王爷外带斗勇!不就是要费费脑力吗?就当是个游戏吧!不过这位七王爷,你确定你真如传闻所说一般?这货明明是个大腹黑!与王爷斗智斗勇也就算了,其他人跟着瞎搀和做什么?重重困难之后得到了皇位!什么?你要放弃皇位了?那可以!什么?你要带我隐居山林?那也可以!【纯属虚构,请勿找茬模仿,出事概不负责】
  • 小人物的小世界发生的小故事

    小人物的小世界发生的小故事

    小人物,小故事,小意思。我就是个小人物,平淡无奇,喜欢听别人聊天,感慨的也多。想到什么我就写什么。
  • Hello刁蛮千金

    Hello刁蛮千金

    她是全国五大家族之一苏家的千金,家族唯一的继承人,能文能武,不管学什么,都是一点就通,古灵精怪,冷傲不羁。他是慕容家的太子爷,只要惹到他的人都不会有好下场,偏偏她就是个例外,高冷,绝世,心高气傲,唯我独尊,两人第一次见面就势同水火,在学校偏偏还是个同桌,于是乎,“敢不敢和我比一比”“没问题,我有什么不敢的。”
  • 她是个笨女孩

    她是个笨女孩

    “疏远不一定是讨厌,可能是太喜欢。”任娆觉得这句话太符合她的现况了,于是就发到朋友圈。朋友们的评论都很有趣,但任娆看见一条“清新脱俗”的评论:“原来你喜欢我”。任娆一下子就后悔发这条朋友圈了
  • 娘子你别太嚣张

    娘子你别太嚣张

    段清菡,唯恐天下不乱的小女子十六岁奉父命下山完成爷爷的誓言,保护绚彩山庄的凌大小姐下山的路上,闯祸不断,差点没将寻隐城弄个天翻地覆正在得意之际,女扮男装的她遇见了貌比天仙的凌大小姐“一不小心”调戏了她,却被凌大小姐不客气的报复了回来她什么都吃,就是不吃亏,这口气又如何咽得下?原本打算趁凌大小姐洗澡的时候好好羞辱她一番谁知道那个貌比天仙的美女突然间变成了如妖孽般的美男。。。。。。凌若心,对外是天下第一绣庄的当家,是经商与刺绣的天才,一个举动便能令整个凤引国抖上一抖,风光无限其实却因为当年皇帝的一份绚彩山庄传女不传男的狗屁圣旨自小男扮女装以保住祖上传下来的基业娘却让他“嫁”给段叔叔的女儿段清菡他虽然男扮女装,可怎么都是堂堂的男子汉怎么可能“嫁”人呢?-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------推荐自己的文:《丑妃无敌》:丑女不丑,帅哥很帅《坏坏相公倒霉妻》:聪慧可人的女主,腹黑的男主《娘子你别太嚣张》:男扮女装,女扮男装反串《夫君,女子不好欺!》:《错惹狂帝》:《王爷让偶轻薄下》:被人退婚不是可耻的事情,而是生命的新生《劣妻》:夜给自己建了一个群,群号:45841753,非铁杆勿入,定期清理群成员,敲门砖:潇湘帐户名+喜欢的文名
  • 重生之统治NBA

    重生之统治NBA

    一脸懊恼的乔丹:如果那个夏天我能够早一点入主山猫,我一定选择“赵承昊”。万念俱灰的巴克利:为什么我没有坚定的选择复出,不然我也能跟着“佛祖大爷”把手指戴满总冠军戒指。喜极而泣的詹姆斯:还好我机智装死了一个赛季终于在总决赛拿到了FMVP,太不容易了——呜呜呜呜呜呜、、、、、暗自庆幸的斯特恩:退休啦!终于不用处心积虑的营造势均力敌的场面,愁得老人家我白头发都要变黑了!满脸倔强的小铁匠:我是不会屈服的,我要回去生儿子,等我儿子长大那该死的家伙肯定打不动了!嗯!肯定的!赵承昊摸了摸已经花白的胡子:我觉得我还可以再打一年。校花同学卒。
  • 幻界当空

    幻界当空

    意外来到了梦幻般的世界,异术超能占据全部人口的万分之一。一无所知,一无所有,该如何生存,又如何寻找回家的路?在这个世界待的越久,与这里的联系就越紧密,羁绊也就越发的深刻。这会是一件好事么?遇见的人,经历的冒险,最终的选择是过往成空,还是现在所经历的一切成空?三千世界,在这一方天地里,易小凡正经历着属于他的故事。
  • 大学生安全法制教育

    大学生安全法制教育

    本书从当前大学生面临的安全形势出发,围绕大学生日常生活、学习的各个环节,总结梳理其存在的安全隐患,并给出合法合理的建议和对策,帮助大学生人情安全形势,在危险和危机面前运用法律知识和安全常识,保护身命财产安全,维护自身合法权益;减少安全事故,促进和谐校园和和谐社会建设。全书分为十一个章节,分别从大学生学习和生活的各个层面进行了详细的分析并给出解决方案。通过安全知识和相关法律知识的讲解和宣传,提高大学生安全防范意识,减少各种安全事故,促进大学生健康发展,促进和谐校园建设。
  • 老衲很坏

    老衲很坏

    一个爱打坐时偷偷摸摸看话本的大和尚,看到有情人终不成眷属,心中欢喜无限,谁料乐极生悲圆寂了。恍然醒来,什么,老衲是法海?老衲是土财主?老衲是王母?还是那句话,和尚谈不得恋爱,你们也不能谈!和尚快穿民间故事。