第22章 法官的房子7（第1页）

第22章法官的房子（7）

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。