beasts and super-beasts(野兽与超级野兽)-第39部分
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making the beasts kneel down in orthodox fashion。 Unfortunately
camel words…of…command are not the same all the world over； these
were magnificent Turkestan camels； accustomed to stride up the stony
terraces of mountain passes； and when Doulton shouted at them they
went side by side up the front steps； into the entrance hall； and up the
grand staircase。 The German governess met them just at the turn of
the corridor。 The Ninevehs nursed her with devoted attention for
weeks； and when I last heard from them she was well enough to go
about her duties again； but the doctor says she will always suffer from
Hagenbeck heart。〃
Amblecope got up from his chair and moved to another part of the
room。 Treddleford reopened his book and betook himself once more
across
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The dragon…green； the luminous； the dark； the serpent…haunted sea。
For a blessed half…hour he disported himself in imagination by the
〃gay Aleppo…Gate；〃 and listened to the bird…voiced singing…man。 Then
the world of to…day called him back； a page summoned him to speak
with a friend on the telephone。
As Treddleford was about to pass out of the room he encountered
Amblecope； also passing out； on his way to the billiard…room； where；
perchance； some luckless wight might be secured and held fast to listen
to the number of his attendances at the Grand Prix； with subsequent
remarks on Newmarket and the Cambridgeshire。 Amblecope made as
if to pass out first； but a new…born pride was surging in Treddleford's
breast and he waved him back。
〃I believe I take precedence；〃 he said coldly； 〃you are merely the
club Bore； I am the club Liar。〃
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THE ELK
TERESA； Mrs。 Thropplestance； was the richest and most
intractable old woman in the county of Woldshire。 In her dealings with
the world in general her manner suggested a blend between a Mistress of
the Robes and a Master of Foxhounds； with the vocabulary of both。 In
her domestic circle she comported herself in the arbitrary style that one
attributes； probably without the least justification； to an American
political Boss in the bosom of his caucus。 The late Theodore
Thropplestance had left her； some thirty…five years ago； in absolute
possession of a considerable fortune； a large landed property； and a
gallery full of valuable pictures。 In those intervening years she had
outlived her son and quarrelled with her elder grandson； who had
married without her consent or approval。 Bertie Thropplestance； her
younger grandson； was the heir…designate to her property； and as such he
was a centre of interest and concern to some half…hundred ambitious
mothers with daughters of marriageable age。 Bertie was an amiable；
easy…going young man； who was quite ready to marry anyone who was
favourably recommended to his notice； but he was not going to waste
his time in falling in love with anyone who would come under his
grandmother's veto。 The favourable recommendation would have to
come from Mrs。 Thropplestance。
Teresa's house…parties were always rounded off with a plentiful
garnishing of presentable young women and alert； attendant mothers； but
the old lady was emphatically discouraging whenever any one of her girl
guests became at all likely to outbid the others as a possible
granddaughter…in…law。 It was the inheritance of her fortune and estate
that was in question； and she was evidently disposed to exercise and
enjoy her powers of selection and rejection to the utmost。 Bertie's
preferences did not greatly matter； he was of the sort who can be stolidly
happy with any kind of wife； he had cheerfully put up with his
grandmother all his life； so was not likely to fret and fume over anything
that might befall him in the way of a helpmate。
The party that gathered under Teresa's roof in Christmas week of the
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year nineteen…hundred…and…something was of smaller proportions than
usual； and Mrs。 Yonelet； who formed one of the party； was inclined to
deduce hopeful augury from this circumstance。 Dora Yonelet and
Bertie were so obviously made for one another； she confided to the
vicar's wife； and if the old lady were accustomed to seeing them about a
lot together she might adopt the view that they would make a suitable
married couple。
〃People soon get used to an idea if it is dangled constantly before
their eyes；〃 said Mrs。 Yonelet hopefully； 〃and the more often Teresa sees
those young people together； happy in each other's company； the more
she will get to take a kindly interest in Dora as a possible and desirable
wife for Bertie。〃
〃My dear；〃 said the vicar's wife resignedly； 〃my own Sybil was
thrown together with Bertie under the most romantic circumstances … I'll
tell you about it some day … but it made no impression whatever on
Teresa； she put her foot down in the most uncompromising fashion； and
Sybil married an Indian civilian。〃
〃Quite right of her；〃 said Mrs。 Yonelet with vague approval； 〃it's
what any girl of spirit would have done。 Still； that was a year or two
ago； I believe； Bertie is older now； and so is Teresa。 Naturally she must
be anxious to see him settled。〃
The vicar's wife reflected that Teresa seemed to be the one person
who showed no immediate anxiety to supply Bertie with a wife； but she
kept the thought to herself。
Mrs。 Yonelet was a woman of resourceful energy and generalship；
she involved the other members of the house… party； the deadweight； so to
speak； in all manner of exercises and occupations that segregated them
from Bertie and Dora； who were left to their own devisings … that is to
say； to Dora's devisings and Bertie's accommodating acquiescence。
Dora helped in the Christmas decorations of the parish church； and
Bertie helped her to help。 Together they fed the swans； till the birds
went on a dyspepsia…strike； together they played billiards； together they
photographed the village almshouses； and； at a respectful distance； the
tame elk that browsed in solitary aloofness in the park。 It was 〃tame〃
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in the sense that it had long ago discarded the least vestige of fear of the
human race； nothing in its record encouraged its human neighbours to
feel a reciprocal confidence。
Whatever sport or exercise or occupation Bertie and Dora indulged
in together was unfailingly chronicled and advertised by Mrs。 Yonelet
for the due enlightenment of Bertie's grandmother。
〃Those two inseparables have just come in from a bicycle ride；〃 she
would announce； 〃quite a picture they make； so fresh and glowing after
their spin。〃
〃A picture needing words；〃 would be Teresa's private comment； and
as far as Bertie was concerned she was determined that the words should
remain unspoken。
On the afternoon after Christmas Day Mrs。 Yonelet dashed into the
drawing…room； where her hostess was sitting amid a circle of guests and
teacups and muffin… dishes。 Fate had placed what seemed like a trump…
card in the hands of the patiently…manoeuvring mother。 With eyes
blazing with excitement and a voice heavily escorted with exclamation
marks she made a dramatic announcement。
〃Bertie has saved Dora from the elk！〃
In swift； excited sentences； broken with maternal emotion； she gave
supplementary information as to how the treacherous animal had
ambushed Dora as she was hunting for a strayed golf ball； and how
Bertie had dashed to her rescue with a stable fork and driven the beast
off i
