第20章 法官的房子5（第1页）

第20章法官的房子（5）

Whenhehadfinishedhissupper，araytotheothereoakdiouthisbooksagain，putfreshwoodorimmedhislamp，ahimselfdoellofrealhardithoutpausetillabouteleveno'cloheknockedoffforabittofixhisfireandlamp，andtomakehimselfacupoftea。Hehadalwaysbeenatea-drinker，andduringhiscollegelifehadsatlateatworkandhadtakewasagreatluxurytohim，awithasenseofdelicious，voluptuousease。Therenewedfireleapedahrewquaintshadhthegreatoldroom;andashesippedhishotteaherevelledinthesenseofisolationfromhiskiwasthathebegantohefirsttimewhatas>

"Surely，"hethought，"theyothavebeenatitallthetimeIwasreading。Hadtheybeen，Imusthave!"Presehenoiseiisfiedhimselfthatitwasreallywasevidentthatatfirsttheratshadbeehepreserahelightoffireandlamp;butthatasthetimewentontheyhadgrownbolderandwerenthemselvesaswastheirwont。

Howbusytheywere!Andharktenoises!Upaheoldwaiheduheyradgnawed，andscratiledtohimselfashereindthesayingofMrs。Dempster，"Bogiesisrats，andratsisbogies!"Theteabegaseffetelledimulus，hesawwithjspellofworktobedhtast，andintheseywhichitgavehim，heallowedhimselftheluxuryofagoodlookroundtheroom。Hetookhislampinonehaallarousoquaiifulanoldhousehadbeensolohegoftheoakohewainscotwasfine，andonandroundthedoorsandasbeautifulahereweresomeoldpithewalls，buttheywerecoatedsothickwithdustanddirtthatheotdistinguishahem，thoughheheldhislampashighashecouldoverhishead。Hereandthereashewentroundhesawsomecrackorholebloentbythefaceofaratwithitsbrighteyesglitteri，butinaninstantitwasgone，andasqueakandascamperfollowed。Thethingthatmoststruckhim，hoeofthegreatalarmbellontheroof，whigdowniheroomht-hahefireplace。Hepulledupclosetreathigh-backedcarvedoakdsatdowntohislastcupoftea。Whenthiswasdohefire，aohiswork，sittingattheerofthetable，haviohisleft。Foralittlewhiletheratsdisturbedhimsomewhatwiththeirperpetualsg，buthegotaedtothenoiseasohetigofaclockortotheroarofmovingwater，andhebeersedinhisworkthateverythingintheworld，excepttheproblemwhichhewastryingtosolve，passedawayfromhim。

Hesuddenlylookedup，hisproblemwasstilluherewasisehehourbeforethedawn，whichissodreadtodoubtfullife。Theheratshaddeeditseemedtohimthatitmusthaveceasedbutlatelyandthatitwasthesuddeionwhichhaddisturbedhim。Thefirehadfallenlow，butstillitthreredglow。Ashelookedhestartedinspiteofhissangfroid。

&hegreathigh-backedcarvedoakchairbytherightsideofthefireplaenormousrat，steadilyglaringathimwithbalefuleyes。Hemadeamotiontoitasthoughtohuntitaway，butitdidnotstir。Theisomething。Stillitdidnotstir，butshoweditsgreatwhiteteethangrily，anditscrueleyesshohelamplightwithaiveness。

Malazed，ahepokerfromthehearthranatittokillit。Before，however，hecouldstrikeit，therat，withasqueakthatsouhetrationofhate，jumpedupontheflouptheropeofthealarmbell，disappearedinthedarkherahegreen-shadedlamp。Instantly，straosay，thenoisysgoftheratsibeganagain。

BythistimeMalindwasquiteofftheproblem;andasashrillcock-crowoutsidetoldhimoftheapproa，heweosleep。

&sosouevenwakedbyMrs。Dempsteringintomakeuphisroom。Itwasonlywheidiedupthepladgothisbreakfastreadyaheswhichhisbedthathewoke。Hewasalittletiredstillafterhisnight'shardwork，butastrongcupofteasoonfreshenedhimupand，takinghisbook，hewentoutfwalk，bringingwithhimafewsaheshouldurntilldiime。Hefouwalkbetweenhighelmssomewayoutsidethetown，ahegreaterpartofthedaystudyinghisLaplahisreturoseeMrs。Withamandtothankherforherkindness。Whenshesawhimingthroughthediamond-panedbaywiumsheeethimandaskedhimin。Shelookedathimseardshookherheadasshesaid:

"Youmust，sir。Youarepalerthismthanyoushouldbe。Toolatehoursandtoohardworkonthebrainisn'tgoodforanyman!Buttellme，sir，howdidyoupassthenight?Well，Ihope?Butmyheart!Sir，Iwasgladwheoldmethismthatyhtandsleepingsoundwhein。"