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！
navigation； a little seamanship； a little manners； etc。； in the mysteries
of reading and writing his sister had already perfected him by dint of
〃the taws。〃 This school was a blow； but Flucker was no fool； he saw there
was no way of getting from school to sea without working。 So he literally
worked out to sea。 His first voyage was distinguished by the following
peculiarities： Attempts to put tricks upon this particular novice
generally ended in the laugh turning against the experimenters； and
instead of drinking his grog； which he hates； he secreted it； and sold it
for various advantages。 He has been now four voyages。 When he comes
ashore； instead of going to haunts of folly and vice； he instantly bears
up for his sister's houseKensington Gravel…pitswhich he makes in the
following manner： He goes up the riverHeaven knows where allthis he
calls running down the longitude； then he lands； and bears down upon the
Gravel…pits； in particular knowledge of the names of streets he is
deficient； but he knows the exact bearings of Christie's dwelling。 He
tacks and wears according as masonry compels him； and he arrives at the
gate。 He hails the house； in a voice that brings all the inhabitants of
the row to their windows； including Christie； he is fallen upon and
dragged into the house。 The first thing is； he draws out from his boots；
and his back； and other hiding…places； China crape and marvelous silk
handkerchiefs for Christie； and she takes from his pocket a mass of
Oriental sugar…plums； with which； but for this precaution； she knows by
experience he would poison young Charley； and soon he is to be seen
sitting with his hand in his sister's； and she lookng like a mother upon
his handsome； weather…beaten face； and Gatty opposite； adoring him as a
specimen of male beauty； and sometimes making furtive sketches of him。
And then the tales he always brings with him； the house is never very
dull； but it is livelier than ever when this inexhaustible sailor casts
anchor in it。
The friends （chiefly artists） who used to leave at 9：30； stay till
eleven； for an intelligent sailor is better company than two lawyers； two
bishops； three soldiers； and four writers of plays and tales； all rolled
together。 And still he tells Christie he shall command a vessel some day；
and leads her to the most cheering inferences from the fact of his
prudence and his general width…awake； in particular he bids her contrast
with him the general fate of sailors； eaten up by land…sharks；
particularly of the female gender； whom he demonstrates to be the worst
enemies poor Jack has； he calls these sunken rocks； fire…ships and other
metaphors。 He concludes thus： 〃You are all the lass I mean to have till
I'm a skipper； and then I'll bear up alongside some pretty； decent lass；
like yourself； Christie； and we'll sail in company all our lives； let the
wind blow high or low。〃 Such is the gracious Flucker become in his
twentieth year。 Last voyage； with Christie's aid； he produced a sextant
of his own； and 〃made it twelve o'clock〃 （with the sun's consent； I
hope）； and the eyes of authority fell upon him。 So； who knows？ perhaps he
may one day； sail a ship； and； if he does； he will be prouder and happier
than if we made him monarch of the globe。
To return to our chiefs； Mrs。 Gatty gave her formal consent to her son's
marriage with Christie Johnstone。
There were examples。 Aristocracy had ere now condescended to wealth；
earls had married women rich by tallow…importing papas； and no doubt； had
these same earls been consulted in Gatty's case； they would have decided
that Christie Johnstone； with her real and funded property； was not a
villainous match for a green grocer's son； without a rapp；* but Mrs。
Gatty did not reason so； did not reason at all； luckily； her heart ran
away with her judgment； and； her judgment ceasing to act； she became a
wise woman。
*A diminutive German coin。
The case was peculiar。 Gatty was a artist _pur sang_and Christie； who
would not have been the wife for a _petit maitre；_ was the wife of wives
for him。
He wanted a beautiful wife to embellish his canvas； disfigured hitherto
by an injudicious selection of models； a virtuous wife to be his crown； a
prudent wife to save him from ruin； a cheerful wife to sustain his
spirits； drooping at times by virtue of his artist's temperament； an
intellectual wife to preserve his children from being born dolts and bred
dunces； and to keep his own mind from sharpening to one point； and so
contracting and becoming monomaniacal。 And he found all these qualities；
together with the sun and moon of human existencetrue love and true
religionin Christie Johnstone。
In similar cases； foolish men have set to work to make； in six months；
their diamond of nature； the exact cut and gloss of other men's pastes；
and； nervously watching the process； have suffered torture； luckily
Charles Gatty was not wise enough for this； he saw nature had
distinguished her he loved beyond her fellows； here； as elsewhere； he had
faith in naturehe believed that Christie would charm everybody of eye；
and ear； and mind； and heart； that approached her； he admired her as she
was； and left her to polish herself； if she chose。 He did well； she came
to London with a fine mind； a broad brogue； a delicate ear； she observed
how her husband's friends spoke； and in a very few months she had toned
down her Scotch to a rich Ionic coloring； which her womanly instinct will
never let her exchange for the thin； vinegar accents that are too
prevalent in English and French society； and in other respects she
caught； by easy gradation； the tone of the new society to which her
marriage introduced her； without； however； losing her charming self。
The wise dowager lodges hard by； having resisted an invitation to be in
the same house； she comes to that house to assist the young wife with her
experience； and to be welcomenot to interfere every minute； and tease
her； she loves her daughter…in…law almost as much as she does her son；
and she is happy because he bids fair to be an immortal painter； and；
above all； a gentleman； and she； a wifely wife； a motherly mother； and；
above all； a lady。
This； then； is a happy couple。 Their life is full of purpose and
industry； yet lightened by gayety； they go to operas； theaters and balls；
for they are young。 They have plenty of society； real society； not the
ill…assorted collection of a predetermined number of bodies； that blindly
assumes that name； but the rich communication of various and fertile
minds； they very； very seldom consent to squat four mortal hours on one
chair （like old hares stiffening in their hot forms）； and nibbling；
sipping and twaddling in four mortal hours what could have been eaten；
drunken and said in thirty…five minutes。 They are both artists at heart；
and it shocks their natures to see folks mix so very largely the
_inutile_ with the _insipidum；_ and waste； at one huge but barren
incubation； the soul； and the stomach； and the irrevocable hours； things
with which so much is to be done。 But they have many desirable
acquaintances； and not a few friends； the latter are mostly lovers of
truth in their several depart