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第22章 法官的房子7（第1页）

第22章法官的房子（7）

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Againhewasediatesurroundihistimeitmighthesuddensilenlywhichtookhisattention;therewasaslightmovementoftherope，andthelampmoved.With，helookedtoseeifhispileofbookswaswithihencasthiseyealongtherope.Ashelookedhesawthegreatratdropfromtheropeontheoakarmdsitthereglaringathim.Heraisedabookinhisrighthand，andtakingcarefulaim，flungitattherat.Thelatter，withaquient，sprangasideahemissile.Hethentookanotherbook，andathird，andflueraherat，buteasuccessfully.Atlast，ashestoodoisedinhishandtothrow，theratsqueakedandseemedafraid.ThismadeMalorethaostrike，andthebookflewandstrucktherataresoundingblow.Itgaveaterrifiedsqueak，andturningonhispursueralookofterriblemalevolenupthechair-badmadeagreatjumptotheropeofthealarmbellandranupitlikelightning.Thelamproderthesuddenstrain，butitwasaheavyoneanddidnottoppleover.Malsohiseyeso，andsawitbythelightofthesepleaptoamouldiahroughaholeihegreatpictureswhithewall，obsdihroughitsgofdirtanddust.

"Ishalllookupmyfriend'shabitationinthem，"saidthestudeovertocollecthisbooks."Thethirdpithefireplace;Ishall;Hepickedupthebooksoingonthemasheliftedthem."ishedoesnotmind，norCycloidalOss，northePrinorQuaternions，norThermodynamiowforthebookthatfetchedhim!"Malsontookitupa.Ashedidsohestarted，asuddenpalloroverspreadhisface.Helookedrounduneasilyaly，ashemurmuredtohimself:"TheBiblemymaveme!Whatanoddce."Hesatdaisireheirgambols.Theydidnotdisturbhim，however;somehowtheirpresencegavehimasenseofpanionship.Butheotattendtohiswork，arivingtomasterthesubjewhichhewaseupindespair，aobedasthehefirststreakofdawhroughtheeasternwindow.

&heavilybutuneasily，anddreamedmudwheerwokehimlateinthemheseemedillatease，andforafewmiseemtorealiseexactlywherehewas.Hisfirstrequestrathersurprisedtheservant."Mrs.Dempster，whenIamouttodayIwishyouwouldgetthestepsanddustorwashthosepictures—speciallythatohirdfromthefireplattoseewhattheyare."

&heafternoonMalsohisbooksintheshadedwalk，andtheessofthepreviousdaycamebaasthedayworeohathisreadingrwell.Hehadworkedouttoasatisfaalltheproblemswhichhadasyetbaffledhim，anditwasinastateofjubilationthathepaidavisittoMrs.Withamat"TheGoodTraveller."Heferiting-roomwiththelandlady，whowasiohimasDr.Thorquiteatease，andthis，bihedoctor'splungioaseriesofquestions，madeMaletothethathispresea，sowithoutpreliminaryhesaid:"Dr.Thornhill，Ishallwithpleasureansweryouaionyoumayeifyouwillanswermyoionfirst."

&orseemedsurprised，buthesmiledao;Doisit?"

"DidMrs.Withamaskyoutoehereandseemea;

Dr.ThornhillforamomentwastakenabadMrs.Withamgotfieryredandturnedaway;butthedoctorwasafrankandreadyman，andheaondopenly."Shedid:butshedidn'tioknowit.Isupposeitwasmyclumsyhastehatmadeyoususpeethatshedidheideainthathouseallbyyourself，andthatshethoughtyoutooktotea.Infact，shewaoadviseyouifpossibletogiveuptheteaaehours.Iwasasakeeinmytime，soIsupposeImaytakethelibertyofaan，andwithoutoffence，adviseyoura;

Malsonwithabrightsmileheldouthishand."Shake!AstheysayinAmerica，"hesaid."ImustthankyouforyourkindnessandMrs.Withamtoo，andyourkindnessdeservesareturnonmypart.Ipromisetotakeea—alltillyouletme—andIshallgotobedtonightatoneo'clockatlatest.Willthatdo?"

"Capital，"saidthedoctor."Nowtellusallthatyouheoldhouse，"andsoMalsoheretoldiailallthathadhappewoerruptedeverynowandtheionfromMrs.Witham，tillfioldoftheepisodeoftheBiblethelandlady'speionsfouiwasnottillastiffglassofbrandyandwaterhadbeenadmishegrewposedagain.Dr.Thornhilllistehafaceravity，ahenarrativeleteandMrs.Withamhadbeeoredheasked:"Theratalwayswentuptheropeofthealarmbell?"

"Always."

"Isupposeyouknow，"saidthedoctorafterapause，"eis?"

"No!"

"Itis，"saidthedoctorslowly，"theveryropewhigmanusedforallthevictimsoftheJudge'sjudicour!"Herehewasihersrs.shadtobetakenforherrealsonhavihiswatdfoundthatitwasclosetohisdinnerhonehomebeforeherpleterecovery.