CHAPTER 4
百度搜索 The Mill on the Floss 天涯 或 The Mill on the Floss 天涯在线书库 即可找到本书最新章节.
A Vanishing GleamMR TULLIVER, evewees of spasmodic rigidity which had recurred at intervals ever since he had been found fallen from his horse, was usually in so apathetic a dition that the exits arances into his room were not felt to be of great importance. He had lain so still, with his eyes closed, all this m, that Maggie told her aunt Moss she must not exp<details></details>ect her father to take any notice of them. They entered very quietly, and Mrs Moss took her seat he head of the bed, while Maggie sat in her old pla the bed, and put her hand on her fathers, without causing any ge in his face.
Mr Glegg and Tom had also ereading softly, and were busy seleg the key of the old oak chest from the bunch whi had brought from his fathers bureau. They succeeded in opening the chest - which stood opposite the foot of Mr Tullivers bed - and propping the lid with the iron holder, without muoise.
`Theres a tin box, whispered Mr Glegg, `hed most like put a small thing like a note in there. Lift it out, Tom; but Ill just lift up these deeds - theyre the deeds o the house and mill, I suppose - and see what there is under em.
Mr Glegg had lifted out the parts and had fortunately drawn back a little, when the iron have way, and the heavy lid fell with a loud bang that resounded over the house.
Perhaps there was something in that sound more than the mere fact of the strong vibration that produced the instantaneous effe the frame of the prostrate man, and for the time pletely shook off the obstru of paralysis. The chest had beloo his father and his fathers father, and it had always been rather a solemn busio visit it. All long-known objects, even a mere window-fastening or a particular door latch, have sounds which are a sort nised voice to us - a voice that will thrill and awake has beeo touch deep-lying fibres. In the same moment when all the eyes in the room were turned upon him, he started up and looked at the chest, the parts in Mr Gleggs hand, and Tom holding the tin box, with a glance of perfect sciousness and reition.
`What are you going to do with those deeds? he said, in his ordinary tone of sharp questioning whenever he was irritated. `e here, Tom. What do you do, going to my chest?
Tom obeyed, with some trembling: it was the first time his father had reised him. But instead of saying anything more to him, his father tio look with a growing distiness of suspi at Mr Glegg and the deeds.
`Whats been happening then? he said, sharply. `What are you meddling with my deeds for? Is Wakem laying hold of everything?... Why dont you tell me what youve been a-doing? he added, impatiently, as Mr Glegg advao the foot of the bed before speaking.
`No, no, friend Tulliver, said Mr Glegg, in a soothing tone. `Nobodys getting hold of anything as yet. We only came to look and see what was in the chest. Youve been ill, you know, and weve had to look after things a bit. But lets hope youll soon be well enough to attend to everythi<var>.99ｌiｂ?</var>ng yourself.
Mr Tulliver looked round him meditatively - at Tom, at Mr Glegg and at Maggie; then suddenly appearing aware that some one was seated by his side at the head of the bed, he turned sharply round and saw his sister.
`Eh, Gritty! he said in the half-sad, affeate tone in which he had been wont to speak to her, `what, youre there, are you? How could you mao leave the children?
`O, brother! said good Mrs Moss, too impulsive to be prudent, `Im thankful Im e now to see you yourself again - I thought youd never know us any more.
`What, have I had a stroke? said Mr Tulliver, anxiously, looking at Mr Glegg.
`A fall from your horse - shook you a bit - thats all, I think, said Mr Glegg. `But youll soo over it, lets hope.
Mr Tulliver fixed his eyes on the bed clot<strike>.99lib.</strike>hes, and remained silent for two or three minutes. A new shadow came over his face. He looked up at Maggie first, and said in a lower tone, `You got the letter, then, my wench?
`Yes, father, she said, kissing him with a full heart. She felt as if her father were e back to her from the dead, and her yearning to show him how she had always loved him could be fulfilled.
`Wheres your mother? he said, so preoccupied that he received the kiss as passively as some quiet animal might have received it.
`Shes downstairs with my aunts, father: shall I fetch her?
`Ay, ay: poor Bessy! and his eyes turowards Tom as Maggie left the room.
`Youll have to take care of em both, if I die, you know, Tom. Youll be badly off, I doubt. But you must see and pay everybody. And mind - theres fifty pound o Lukes as I put into the business, he gave it me a bit at a time and hes got nothing to show for it. You must pay him first thing.
Uncle Glegg involuntarily shook his head, and looked more ed than ever, but Tom said firmly,
`Yes, father. And havent you a note from my uncle Moss for three hundred pounds? We came to look for that. What do you wish to be done about it, father?
`Ah! Im glad you thought o that my lad, said Mr Tulliver. `I allays meant to be easy about that money, because o your aunt. You mustnt mind losing the money, if they t pay it - and its like enough they t. The notes in that box, mind! I allays meant to be good to you, Gritty, said Mr Tulliver, turning to his sister, `but, you know, you aggravated me when you would have Moss.
At this moment Maggie re-entered with her mother who came in much agitated by the hat her husband was quite himself again.
`Well, Bessy, he said, as she kissed him, `you must five me if youre worse off than you ever expected to be. But its the fault o the law - its none o mine, he added, angrily. `Its the fault o raskills! Tom - you mind this - if ever youve got the ce, you make Wakem smart. If you dont, youre a good-for-nothing son. You might horsewhip him - but hed set the law on you - the laws made to take care o raskills.
Mr Tulliver was gettied, and an alarming flush was on his face. Mr Glegg wao say something soothing, but he revented by Mr Tullivers speaking again to his wife. `Theyll make a shift to pay everything, Bessy, he said, `a leave you your furniture; and your sistersll do something for you... and Tomll grow up... though what hes to be I dont know... Ive done what I could... Ive given him a eddication... and theres the little wench, shell get married... but <footer></footer>its a poor tale...
The sanative effect of the strong vibration was exhausted, and with the last words, the poor man fell again rigid and insensible. Though this was only a recurrence of what had happened before, it struck all present as if it had beeh, not only from its trast with the pleteness of the revival, but because his words had all had refereo <tt>99lib?t>the possibility that his death was near. But with poor Tulliver, death was not to be a leap: it was to be a long dest uhiing shadows.
Mr Turnbull was sent for, but when he heard what had passed, he said this plete restoration, though only temporary, eful sign, proving that there was no perma lesion to prevent ultimate recovery.
Among the threads of the past which the stri man had gathered up, he had omitted the bill of sale: the flash of memory had only lit up promi ideas, and he sank intetfulness again with half his humiliation unlearned.
But Tom was clear upon two points - that his uncle Mosss note must be destroyed, and that Lukes money must be paid, if in no other way, out of his own and Maggies money now in the savings bank. There were subjects, you perceive, on whi was much quicker than on the ies of classical stru, or the relations of a mathematical demonstration.
百度搜索 The Mill on the Floss 天涯 或 The Mill on the Floss 天涯在线书库 即可找到本书最新章节.