登陆注册
15760100000009

第9章

I do not speak of that fictitious marble slab up there; but here, among the sandhills by this river, and at the Mount of Olives over which we passed, I do believe."He paused a moment, and then replied: "To me it is all nothing,--absolutely nothing. But then do we not know that our thoughts are formed, and our beliefs modelled, not on the outward signs or intrinsic evidences of things,--as would be the case were we always rational,--but by the inner workings of the mind itself? At the present turn of my life I can believe in nothing that is gracious.""Ah, you mean that you are unhappy. You have come to grief in some of your doings or belongings, and therefore find that all things are bitter to the taste. I have had my palate out of order too; but the proper appreciation of flavours has come back to me. Bah,--how noisome was that Dead Sea water!""The Dead Sea waters are noisome," he said; "and I have been drinking of them by long draughts.""Long draughts!" I answered, thinking to console him. "Draughts have not been long which can have been swallowed in your years.

Your disease may be acute, but it cannot yet have become chronic. Aman always thinks at the moment of each misfortune that that special misery will last his lifetime; but God is too good for that. I do not know what ails you; but this day twelvemonth will see you again as sound as a roach."We then sat silent for a while, during which I was puffing at a cigar. Smith, among his accomplishments, did not reckon that of smoking,--which was a grief to me; for a man enjoys the tobacco doubly when another is enjoying it with him.

"No, you do not know what ails me," he said at last, "and, therefore, cannot judge.""Perhaps not, my dear fellow. But my experience tells me that early wounds are generally capable of cure; and, therefore, I surmise that yours may be so. The heart at your time of life is not worn out, and has strength and soundness left wherewith to throw off its maladies. I hope it may be so with you.""God knows. I do not mean to say that there are none more to be pitied than I am; but at the present moment, I am not--not light-hearted."

"I wish I could ease your burden, my dear fellow.""It is most preposterous in me thus to force myself upon you, and then trouble you with my cares. But I had been alone so long, and Iwas so weary of it!"

"By Jove, and so had I. Make no apology. And let me tell you this,--though perhaps you will not credit me,--that I would sooner laugh with a comrade than cry with him is true enough; but, if occasion demands, I can do the latter also."He then put out his hand to me, and I pressed it in token of my friendship. My own hand was hot and rough with the heat and sand;but his was soft and cool almost as a woman's. I thoroughly hate an effeminate man; but, in spite of a certain womanly softness about this fellow, I could not hate him. "Yes," I continued, "though somewhat unused to the melting mood, I also sometimes give forth my medicinal gums. I don't want to ask you any questions, and, as a rule, I hate to be told secrets, but if I can be of any service to you in any matter I will do my best. I don't say this with reference to the present moment, but think of it before we part."I looked round at him and saw that he was in tears. "I know that you will think that I am a weak fool," he said, pressing his handkerchief to his eyes.

"By no means. There are moments in a man's life when it becomes him to weep like a woman; but the older he grows the more seldom those moments come to him. As far as I can see of men, they never cry at that which disgraces them.""It is left for women to do that," he answered.

"Oh, women! A woman cries for everything and for nothing. It is the sharpest arrow she has in her quiver,--the best card in her hand. When a woman cries, what can you do but give her all she asks for?""Do you--dislike women?"

"No, by Jove! I am never really happy unless one is near me, or more than one. A man, as a rule, has an amount of energy within him which he cannot turn to profit on himself alone. It is good for him to have a woman by him that he may work for her, and thus have exercise for his limbs and faculties. I am very fond of women. But I always like those best who are most helpless."We were silent again for a while, and it was during this time that Ifound myself lying with my head in his lap. I had slept, but it could have been but for a few minutes, and when I woke I found his hand upon my brow. As I started up he said that the flies had been annoying me, and that he had not chosen to waken me as I seemed weary. "It has been that double bathing," I said, apologetically;for I always feel ashamed when I am detected sleeping in the day.

"In hot weather the water does make one drowsy. By Jove, it's getting dark; we had better have the horses.""Stay half a moment," he said, speaking very softly, and laying his hand upon my arm, "I will not detain you a minute.""There is no hurry in life," I said.

"You promised me just now you would assist me.""If it be in my power, I will."

"Before we part at Alexandria I will endeavour to tell you the story of my troubles, and then if you can aid me--" It struck me as he paused that I had made a rash promise, but nevertheless I must stand by it now--with one or two provisoes. The chances were that the young man was short of money, or else that he had got into a scrape about a girl. In either ease I might give him some slight assistance; but, then, it behoved me to make him understand that Iwould not consent to become a participator in mischief. I was too old to get my head willingly into a scrape, and this I must endeavour to make him understand.

"I will, if it be in my power," I said. "I will ask no questions now; but if your trouble be about some lady--""It is not," said he.

"Well; so be it. Of all troubles those are the most troublesome.

If you are short of cash--"

"No, I am not short of cash."

同类推荐
  • 寄续尊师

    寄续尊师

    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。
  • 宋大事记讲义

    宋大事记讲义

    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。
  • Stories in Light and Shadow

    Stories in Light and Shadow

    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。
  • 四诊抉微

    四诊抉微

    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。
  • 绛云楼题跋

    绛云楼题跋

    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。
热门推荐
  • 朱门废柴八小姐

    朱门废柴八小姐

    她,是21世纪人人闻风丧胆的毒医—朱莘;一朝穿越,变成了朱门人人可欺的八小姐—朱莘。她每日忍受着朱氏儿女欺凌,可为的只是将原主所受之罪,十倍,甚至100倍,1000倍偿还!!!!
  • 爱戴面具的大魔王

    爱戴面具的大魔王

    一个智商高达160却自动删除记忆的脑域和神秘体质。
  • 暖男快过来

    暖男快过来

    “呜哇T^T你一点都不爱我!”“哪有不爱你!”“你不哄我!”“好好好,老婆乖,请你吃好吃的!”“好啊好啊!!”“还生不生气?”“不了。。。”甜蜜上市,江少温柔的“攻击”让她无法自拔
  • EXO如果走进我的心

    EXO如果走进我的心

    如果我要给你一个机会,你会不会走进我的心?
  • 我是男配我怕谁

    我是男配我怕谁

    好不容易体验一场穿越的顾小夕,居然穿到一个游戏里,而且还是一本网游文里的男配。为了自己的生命安全,顾小夕决定要远离男女主。然而正当自己混的风声水气的时候,女主大大你凑过来干什么,不素说好不喜欢我的。喂喂喂,男主大人,我木有和你抢女主大人,求放过啊~~严肃脸:穿越到一本网游里当男配,被困在游戏里的顾小夕,在没有穿越人士必备的金手指情况下为了避免被炮灰的命运,顾小夕决定要远离男女主,但是却发现那个男主身边的女配居然和自己“前身”长得一模一样....
  • 冰火阑珊

    冰火阑珊

    冰山美人、冷静而又无敌!!!火山帅逼、狂笑而又凶狠~~~烈焰萝莉、苦情而又坦荡!!!太湖水妖、最强的助手,可惜是个基佬~~暗黑魔子、每个队伍都有的一个短板~~~狂野麒麟、狂野而又心细~~~白衣飞蚁、神秘而又重要!!!
  • 六界玄戒

    六界玄戒

    他,机缘巧合之下,获得一枚玄戒。一个本应死去的人,却活在另一个世界。他被人称为仙帝,又被人称为魔君。亦正亦邪又如何,他只要找回心爱的人,超脱这一世。新人新书求支持~~
  • 寒晴凌羽

    寒晴凌羽

    他与她青梅竹马,可她却忘了他,这场车祸谁也没有想到,哥哥的挚友莫名其妙地成为了她的未婚夫,啊!她不甘心……
  • 黑白阎罗

    黑白阎罗

    他,邪意洒然,为了仇恨拿起屠刀。掌黑白混沌,逆万古龙魂。修地狱之力,踏封神之路。灾厄之器的出现,究竟会给人间带来什么?
  • 重生之我也想混娱乐圈

    重生之我也想混娱乐圈

    每个人都有一个重生梦,如果你没有,说明你对生活比较满意。重活一次,要怎样生活?曾经的遗憾是否都得到解决?曾经爱慕过的女同学是否追到了手?没完成的大学梦又是一个怎样的美好?在娱乐圈,面对形形色色的人和事,要有怎样的态度,在迅速成名的生活中是否迷失自我?一切可能就在这本书里。新建群:170079216,欢迎大家来戏水。