按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
infection to dread it much。 She did indeed wish； from time to time；
that Michael had been at home to have taken Willie over to his
father's at High Beck； but then； again； the lad was docile and useful
to her； and his fecklessness in many things might make him harshly
treated by strangers； so； perhaps； it was as well that Michael was
away at Appleby fair； or even beyond thatgone into Yorkshire after
horses。
Her father grew worse； and the doctor insisted on sending over a
nurse from Coniston。 Not a professed nurseConiston could not have
supported such a one； but a widow who was ready to go where the
doctor sent her for the sake of the payment。 When she came； Susan
suddenly gave way； she was felled by the fever herself； and lay
unconscious for long weeks。 Her consciousness returned to her one
spring afternoon； early spring： April；her wedding…month。 There
was a little fire burning in the small corner…grate； and the
flickering of the blaze was enough for her to notice in her weak
state。 She felt that there was some one sitting on the window…side
of her bed； behind the curtain； but she did not care to know who it
was； it was even too great a trouble for her languid mind to consider
who it was likely to be。 She would rather shut her eyes； and melt
off again into the gentle luxury of sleep。 The next time she
wakened； the Coniston nurse perceived her movement； and made her a
cup of tea； which she drank with eager relish； but still they did not
speak； and once more Susan lay motionlessnot asleep； but strangely；
pleasantly conscious of all the small chamber and household sounds；
the fall of a cinder on the hearth； the fitful singing of the half…
empty kettle； the cattle tramping out to field again after they had
been milked； the aged step on the creaking stairold Peggy's； as she
knew。 It came to her door； it stopped； the person outside listened
for a moment； and then lifted the wooden latch； and looked in。 The
watcher by the bedside arose； and went to her。 Susan would have been
glad to see Peggy's face once more； but was far too weak to turn； so
she lay and listened。
〃How is she？〃 whispered one trembling； aged voice。
〃Better；〃 replied the other。 〃She's been awake； and had a cup of
tea。 She'll do now。〃
〃Has she asked after him？〃
〃Hush！ No； she has not spoken a word。〃
〃Poor lass！ poor lass！〃
The door was shut。 A weak feeling of sorrow and self…pity came over
Susan。 What was wrong？ Whom had she loved？ And dawning； dawning；
slowly rose the sun of her former life； and all particulars were made
distinct to her。 She felt that some sorrow was coming to her； and
cried over it before she knew what it was； or had strength enough to
ask。 In the dead of night；and she had never slept again；she
softly called to the watcher； and asked …
〃Who？〃
〃Who what？〃 replied the woman； with a conscious affright； ill…veiled
by a poor assumption of ease。 〃Lie still； there's a darling； and go
to sleep。 Sleep's better for you than all the doctor's stuff。〃
〃Who？〃 repeated Susan。 〃Something is wrong。 Who？〃
〃Oh； dear！〃 said the woman。 〃There's nothing wrong。 Willie has
taken the turn； and is doing nicely。〃
〃Father？〃
〃Well！ he's all right now；〃 she answered； looking another way； as if
seeking for something。
〃Then it's Michael！ Oh； me！ oh； me！〃 She set up a succession of
weak； plaintive； hysterical cries before the nurse could pacify her；
by declaring that Michael had been at the house not three hours
before to ask after her； and looked as well and as hearty as ever man
did。
〃And you heard of no harm to him since？〃 inquired Susan。
〃Bless the lass； no； for sure！ I've ne'er heard his name named since
I saw him go out of the yard as stout a man as ever trod shoe…
leather。〃
It was well； as the nurse said afterwards to Peggy； that Susan had
been so easily pacified by the equivocating answer in respect to her
father。 If she had pressed the questions home in his case as she did
in Michael's； she would have learnt that he was dead and buried more
than a month before。 It was well； too； that in her weak state of
convalescence （which lasted long after this first day of
consciousness） her perceptions were not sharp enough to observe the
sad change that had taken place in Willie。 His bodily strength
returned； his appetite was something enormous； but his eyes wandered
continually； his regard could not be arrested； his speech became
slow； impeded； and incoherent。 People began to say that the fever
had taken away the little wit Willie Dixon had ever possessed and
that they feared that he would end in being a 〃natural；〃 as they call
an idiot in the Dales。
The habitual affection and obedience to Susan lasted longer than any
other feeling that the boy had had previous to his illness； and；
perhaps； this made her be the last to perceive what every one else
had long anticipated。 She felt the awakening rude when it did come。
It was in this wise：…
One Jane evening； she sat out of doors under the yew…tree； knitting。
She was pale still from her recent illness； and her languor； joined
to the fact of her black dress； made her look more than usually
interesting。 She was no longer the buoyant self…sufficient Susan；
equal to every occasion。 The men were bringing in the cows to be
milked； and Michael was about in the yard giving orders and
directions with somewhat the air of a master； for the farm belonged
of right to Willie； and Susan had succeeded to the guardianship of
her brother。 Michael and she were to be married as soon as she was
strong enoughso； perhaps； his authoritative manner was justified；
but the labourers did not like it； although they said little。 They
remembered a stripling on the farm； knowing far less than they did；
and often glad to shelter his ignorance of all agricultural matters
behind their superior knowledge。 They would have taken orders from
Susan with far more willingness； nay； Willie himself might have
commanded them； and from the old hereditary feeling toward the owners
of land； they would have obeyed him with far greater cordiality than
they now showed to Michael。 But Susan was tired with even three
rounds of knitting； and seemed not to notice； or to care； how things
went on around her； and Williepoor Willie！there he stood lounging
against the door…sill； enormously grown and developed； to be sure；
but with restless eyes and ever…open mouth； and every now and then
setting up a strange kind of howling cry； and then smiling vacantly
to himself at the sound he had made。 As the two old labourers passed
him； they looked at each other ominously； and shook their heads。
〃Willie； darling；〃 said Susan； 〃don't make that noiseit makes my
head ache。〃
She spoke feebly； and Willie did not seem to hear； at any rate； he
continued his howl from time to time。
〃Hold thy noise； wilt'a？〃 said Michael； roughly； as he passed near
him； and