英语天堂-第60部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


“What’s　this；　Dodo；　you　little　lazy　dog！　you　haven’t　rubbed　my　horse　down；　this　morning。”
“Yes；　Mas’r；”　said　Dodo；　submissively；　“he　got　that　dust　on　his　own　self。”
“You　rascal；　shut　your　mouth！”　said　Henrique；　violently　raising　his　riding…whip。　“How　dare　you　speak？”
The　boy　was　a　handsome；　bright…eyed　mulatto；　of　just　Henrique’s　size；　and　his　curling　hair　hung　round　a　high；　bold　forehead。　He　had　white　blood　in　his　veins；　as　could　be　seen　by　the　quick　flush　in　his　cheek；　and　the　sparkle　of　his　eye；　as　he　eagerly　tried　to　speak。
“Mas’r　Henrique！—”　he　began。
Henrique　struck　him　across　the　face　with　his　riding…whip；　and；　seizing　one　of　his　arms；　forced　him　on　to　his　knees；　and　beat　him　till　he　was　out　of　breath。
“There；　you　impudent　dog！　Now　will　you　learn　not　to　answer　back　when　I　speak　to　you？　Take　the　horse　back；　and　clean　him　properly。　I’ll　teach　you　your　place！”
“Young　Mas’r；”　said　Tom；　“I　specs　what　he　was　gwine　to　say　was；　that　the　horse　would　roll　when　he　was　bringing　him　up　from　the　stable；　he’s　so　full　of　spirits；—that’s　the　way　he　got　that　dirt　on　him；　I　looked　to　his　cleaning。”
“You　hold　your　tongue　till　you’re　asked　to　speak！”　said　Henrique；　turning　on　his　heel；　and　walking　up　the　steps　to　speak　to　Eva；　who　stood　in　her　riding…dress。
“Dear　Cousin；　I’m　sorry　this　stupid　fellow　has　kept　you　waiting；”　he　said。　“Let’s　sit　down　here；　on　this　seat　till　they　come。　What’s　the　matter；　Cousin？—you　look　sober。”
“How　could　you　be　so　cruel　and　wicked　to　poor　Dodo？”　asked　Eva。
“Cruel；—wicked！”　said　the　boy；　with　unaffected　surprise。　“What　do　you　mean；　dear　Eva？”
“I　don’t　want　you　to　call　me　dear　Eva；　when　you　do　so；”　said　Eva。
“Dear　Cousin；　you　don’t　know　Dodo；　it’s　the　only　way　to　manage　him；　he’s　so　full　of　lies　and　excuses。　The　only　way　is　to　put　him　down　at　once；—not　let　him　open　his　mouth；　that’s　the　way　papa　manages。”
“But　Uncle　Tom　said　it　was　an　acomident；　and　he　never　tells　what　isn’t　true。”
“He’s　an　uncommon　old　nigger；　then！”　said　Henrique。　“Dodo　will　lie　as　fast　as　he　can　speak。”
“You　frighten　him　into　deceiving；　if　you　treat　him　so。”
“Why；　Eva；　you’ve　really　taken　such　a　fancy　to　Dodo；　that　I　shall　be　jealous。”
“But　you　beat　him；—and　he　didn’t　deserve　it。”
“O；　well；　it　may　go　for　some　time　when　he　does；　and　don’t　get　it。　A　few　cuts　never　come　amiss　with　Dodo；—he’s　a　regular　spirit；　I　can　tell　you；　but　I　won’t　beat　him　again　before　you；　if　it　troubles　you。”
Eva　was　not　satisfied；　but　found　it　in　vain　to　try　to　make　her　handsome　cousin　understand　her　feelings。
Dodo　soon　appeared；　with　the　horses。
“Well；　Dodo；　you’ve　done　pretty　well；　this　time；”　said　his　young　master；　with　a　more　gracious　air。　“Come；　now；　and　hold　Miss　Eva’s　horse　while　I　put　her　on　to　the　saddle。”
Dodo　came　and　stood　by　Eva’s　pony。　His　face　was　troubled；　his　eyes　looked　as　if　he　had　been　crying。
Henrique；　who　valued　himself　on　his　gentlemanly　adroitness　in　all　matters　of　gallantry；　soon　had　his　fair　cousin　in　the　saddle；　and；　gathering　the　reins；　placed　them　in　her　hands。
But　Eva　bent　to　the　other　side　of　the　horse；　where　Dodo　was　standing；　and　said；　as　he　relinquished　the　reins；—“That’s　a　good　boy；　Dodo；—thank　you！”
Dodo　looked　up　in　amazement　into　the　sweet　young　face；　the　blood　rushed　to　his　cheeks；　and　the　tears　to　his　eyes。
“Here；　Dodo；”　said　his　master；　imperiously。
Dodo　sprang　and　held　the　horse；　while　his　master　mounted。
“There’s　a　picayune　for　you　to　buy　candy　with；　Dodo；”　said　Henrique；　“go　get　some。”
And　Henrique　cantered　down　the　walk　after　Eva。　Dodo　stood　looking　after　the　two　children。　One　had　given　him　money；　and　one　had　given　him　what　he　wanted　far　more；—a　kind　word；　kindly　spoken。　Dodo　had　been　only　a　few　months　away　from　his　mother。　His　master　had　bought　him　at　a　slave　warehouse；　for　his　handsome　face；　to　be　a　match　to　the　handsome　pony；　and　he　was　now　getting　his　breaking　in；　at　the　hands　of　his　young　master。
The　scene　of　the　beating　had　been　witnessed　by　the　two　brothers　St。　Clare；　from　another　part　of　the　garden。
Augustine’s　cheek　flushed；　but　he　only　observed；　with　his　usual　sarcastic　carelessness。
“I　suppose　that’s　what　we　may　call　republican　education；　Alfred？”
“Henrique　is　a　devil　of　a　fellow；　when　his　blood’s　up；”　said　Alfred；　carelessly。
“I　suppose　you　consider　this　an　instructive　practice　for　him；”　said　Augustine；　drily。
“I　couldn’t　help　it；　if　I　didn’t。　Henrique　is　a　regular　little　tempest；—his　mother　and　I　have　given　him　up；　long　ago。　But；　then；　that　Dodo　is　a　perfect　sprite；—no　amount　of　whipping　can　hurt　him。”
“And　this　by　way　of　teaching　Henrique　the　first　verse　of　a　republican’s　catechism；　‘All　men　are　born　free　and　equal！’”
“Poh！”　said　Alfred；　“one　of　Tom　Jefferson’s　pieces　of　French　sentiment　and　humbug。　It’s　perfectly　ridiculous　to　have　that　going　the　rounds　among　us；　to　this　day。”
“I　think　it　is；”　said　St。　Clare；　significantly。
“Because；”　said　Alfred；　“we　can　see　plainly　enough　that　all　men　are　not　born　free；　nor　born　equal；　they　are　born　anything　else。　For　my　part；　I　think　half　this　republican　talk　sheer　humbug。　It　is　the　educated；　the　intelligent；　the　wealthy；　the　refined；　who　ought　to　have　equal　rights　and　not　the　canaille。”
“If　you　can　keep　the　canaille　of　that　opinion；”　said　Augustine。　“They　took　their　turn　once；　in　France。”
“Of　course；　they　must　be　kept　down；　consistently；　steadily；　as　I　should；”　said　Alfred；　setting　his　foot　hard　down　as　if　he　were　standing　on　somebody。
“It　makes　a　terrible　slip　when　they　get　up；”　said　Augustine；—“in　St。　Domingo；　for　instance。”
“Poh！”　said　Alfred；　“we’ll　take　care　of　that；　in　this　country。　We　must　set　our　face　against　all　this　educating；　elevating　talk；　that　is　getting　about　now；　the　lower　class　must　not　be　educated。”
“That　is　past　praying　for；”　said　Augustine；　“educated　they　will　be；　and　we　have　only　to　say　how。　Our　system　is　educating　them　in　barbarism　and　brutality。　We　are　breaking　all　humanizing　ties；　and　making　them　brute　beasts；　and；　if　they　get　the　upper　hand；　such　we　shall　find　them。”
“They　shall　never　get　the　upper　hand！”　said　Alfred。
“That’s　right；”　said　St。　Clare；　“put　on　the　steam；　fasten　down　the　escape…valve；　and　sit　on　it；　and　see　where　you’ll　land。”
“Well；”　said　Alfred；　“we　will　see。　I’m　not　afraid　to　sit　on　the　escape…valve；　as　long　as　the　boilers　are　strong；　and　the　machinery　works　well。”
“The　nobles　in　Louis　XVI。’s　time　thought　just　so；　and　Austria　and　Pius　IX。　think　so　now；　and；　some　pleasant　morning；　you　may　all　be　caught　up　to　meet　each　other　in　the　air；　when　the　boilers　burst。”
“Dies　declarabit；”　said　Alfred；　laughing。
“I　tell　you；”　said　Augustine；　“if　there　is　anything　that　is　revealed　with　the　strength　of　a　divine　law　in　our　times；　it　is　that　the　masses　are　to　rise；　and　the　under　class　become　the　upper　one。”
“That’s　one　of　your　red　republican　humbugs；　Augustine！　Why　didn’t　you　ever　take　to　the　stump；—you’d　make　a　famous　stump　orator！　Well；　I　hope　I　shall　be　dead　before　this　millennium　of　your　greasy　masses　comes　on。”
“Greasy　or　not　greasy；　they　will　govern　you；　when　their　time　comes；”　said　Augustine；　“and　they　will　be　just　such　rulers　as　you　make　them。　The　French　noblesse　chose　to　have　the　people　‘sans　culottes；’　and　they　had　‘sans　culotte’　governors　to　their　hearts’　content。　The　people　of　Hayti—”
“O；　come；　Augustine！　as　if　we　hadn’t　had　enough　of　that　abominable；　contemptible　Hayti！1　The　Haytiens　were　not　Anglo　Saxons；　if　they　had　been　there　would　have　been　another　story。　The　Anglo　Saxon　is　the　dominant　race　of　the　world；　and　is　to　be　so。”
“Well；　there　is　a　pretty　fair　infusion　of　Anglo　Saxon　blood　among　our　slaves；　now；”　said　Augustine。　“There　are　plenty　among　them　who　have　only　enough　of　the　African　to　give　a　sort　of　tropical　warmth　and　fervor　to　our　calculating　firmness　and　foresight。　If　ever　the　San　Domingo　hour　comes；　Anglo　Saxon　blood　will　lead　on　the　day。　Sons　of　white　fathers；　with　all　our　haughty　feelings　burning　in　their　veins；　will　not　always　be　bought　and　sold　and　traded。　They　will　rise；　and　raise　with　them　their　mother’s　race。”
“Stuff！—nonsense！”
“Well；”　said　Augustine；　“there　goes　an　old　saying　to　this　effect；　‘As　it　was　in　the　days　of　Noah　so　shall　it　be；—they　ate；　they　drank；　they　planted；　they　builded；　and　knew　not　till　the　flood　came　and　took　them。’”
“On　the　whole；　Augustine；　I　think　your　talents　might　do　for　a　circuit　rider；”　said　Alfred；　laughing。　“Never　you　fear　for　us；　possession　is　our　nine　points。　We’ve　got　the　power。　This　subject　race；”　said　he；　stamping　firmly；　“is　down　and　shall　stay　down！　We　have　energy　enough　to　manage　our　own　powder。”
“Sons　trained　like　your　Henrique　will　be　grand　guardians　of　your　powder…magazines；”　said　Augustine；—“so　cool　and　self…possessed！　The　proverb　says；　“‘They　that　cannot　govern　themselves　cannot　govern　others。’”
“There　is　a　trouble　there”　said　Alfred；　thoughtfully；　“there’s　no　doubt　that　our　system　is　a　difficult　one　to　train　children　under。　It　gives　too　free　scope　to　the　passions；　altogether；　which；　in　our　climate；　are　hot　enough。　I　find　trouble　with　Henrique。　The　boy　is　generous　and　warm…hearted；　but　a　perfect　fire…cracker　when　excited。　I　believe　I　shall　send　him　North　for　his　education；　where　obedience　is　more　fashionable；　and　where　he　will　associate　more　with　equals；　and　less　with　dependents。”
“Since　training　children　is　the　staple　work　of　the　human　race；”　said　Augustine；　“I　should　think　it　something　of　a　consideration　that　our　system　does　not　work　well　there。”
“It　does　not　for　some　things；”　said　Alfred；　“for　others；　again；　it　does。　It　makes　boys　manly　and　courageous；　and　the　very　vices　of　an　abject　race　tend　to　strengthen　in　them　the　opposite　virtues。　I　think　Henrique；　now；　has　a　keener　sense　of　the　beauty　of　truth；　from　seeing　lying　and　deception　the　universal　badge　of　slavery。”
“A　Christian…like　view　of　the　subject；　certainly！”　said　Augustine。
“It’s　true；　Christian…like　or　not；　and　is　about　as　Christian…like　as　most　other　things　in　the　world；”　said　Alfred。
“That　may　be；”　said　St。　Clare。
“Well；　there’s　no　use　in　talking；　Augustine。　I　believe　we’ve　been　round　and　round　this　old　track　five　hundred　times；　more　or　less。　What　do　you　say　to　a　game　of　backgammon？”
The　two　brothers　ran　up　the　verandah　steps；　and　were　soon　seated　at　a　light　bamboo　stand；　with　the　backgammon…board　between　them。　As　they　were　setting　their　men；　Alfred　said；
“I　tell　you；　Augustine；　if　I　thought　as　you　do；　I　should　do　something。”
“I　dare　say　you　would；—you　are　one　of　the　doing　sort；—but　what？”
“Why；　elevate　your　own　servants；　for　a　specimen；”　said　Alfred；　with　a　half…scornful　smile。
“You　might　as　well　set　Mount　？tna　on　them　flat；　and　tell　them　to　stand　up　under　it；　as　tell　me　to　elevate　my　servants　under　all　the　superincumbent　mass　of　society　upon　them。　One　man　can　do　nothing；　against　the　whole　action　of　a　community。　Education；　to　do　anything；　must　be　a　state　education；　or　there　must　be　enough　agreed　in　it　to　make　a　current。”
“You　take　the　first　throw；”　said　Alfred；　and　the　brothers　were　soon　lost　in　the　game；　and　heard　no　more　till　the　scraping　of　horses’　feet　was　heard　under　the　verandah。
“There　come　the　children；”　said　Augustine；　rising。　“Look　here；　Alf！　Did　you　ever　see　anything　so　beautiful？”　And；　in　truth；　it　was　a　beautiful　sight。　Henrique；　with　his　bold　brow；　and　dark；　glossy　curls；　and　glowing　cheek；　was　laughing　gayly　as　he　bent　towards　his　fair　cousin；　as　they　came　on。　She　was　dressed　in　a　blue　riding　dress；　with　a　cap　of　the　same　color。　Exercise　had　given　a　brilliant　hue　to　her　cheeks；　and　heightened　the　effect　of　her　singularly　transparent　skin；　and　golden　hair。
“Good　heavens！　what　perfectly　dazzling　beauty！”　said　Alfred。　“I　tell　you；　Auguste；　won’t　she　make　some　hearts　ache；　one　of　these　days？”
“She　will；　too　truly；—God　knows　I’m　afraid　so！”　said　St。　Clare；　in　a　tone　of　sudden　bitterness；　as　he　hurried　down　to　take　her　off　her　horse。
“Eva　darling！　you’re　not　much　tired？”　he　said；　as　he　clasped　her　in　his　arms。
“No；　papa；”　said　the　child；　but　her　short；　hard　breathing　alarmed　her　father。
“How　could　you　ride　so　fast；　dear？—you　know　it’s　bad　for　you。”
“I　felt　so　well；　papa；　and　liked　it　so　much；　I　forgot。”
St。　Clare　carried　her　in　his　arms　into　the　parlor；　and　laid　her　on　the　sofa。
“Henrique；　you　must　be　careful　of　Eva；”　said　he；　“you　mustn’t　ride　fast　with　her。”
“I’ll　take　her　under　my　care；”　said　Henrique；　seating　himself　by　the　sofa；　and　taking　Eva’s　hand。
Eva　soon　found　herself　much　better。　Her　father　and　uncle　resumed　their　game；　and　the　children　were　left　together。
“Do　you　know；　Eva；　I’m　sorry　papa　is　only　going　to　stay　two　days　here；　and　then　I　shan’t　see　you　again　for　ever　so　long！　If　I　stay　with　you；　I’d　try　to　be　good；　and　not　be　cross　to　Dodo；　and　so　on。　I　don’t　mean　to　treat　Dodo　ill；　but；　you　know；　I’ve　got　such　a　quick　temper。　I’m　not　really　bad　to　him；　though。　I　give　him　a　picayune；　now　and　then；　and　you　see　he　dresses　well。　I　think；　on　the　whole；　Dodo　’s　pretty　well　off。”
“Would　you　think　you　were　well　off；　if　there　were　not　one　creature　in　the　world　near　you　to　love　you？”
“I？—Well；　of　course　not。”
“And　you　have　taken　Dodo　away　from　all　the　friends　he　ever　had；　and　now　he　has　not　a　creature　to　love　him；—nobody　can　be　good　that　way。”
“Well；　I　can’t　help　it；　as　I　know　of。　I　can’t　get　his　mother　and　I　can’t　love　him　myself；　nor　anybody　else；　as　I　know　of。”
“Why　can’t　you？”　said　Eva。
“Love　Dodo！　Why；　Eva；　you　wouldn’t　have　me！　I　may　like　him　well　enough；　but　you　don’t　love　your　servants。”
“I　do；　indeed。”
“How　odd！”
“Don’t　the　Bible　say　we　must　love　everybody？”
“O；　the　Bible！　To　be　sure；　it　says　a　great　many　such　things；　but；　then；　nobody　ever　thinks　of　doing　them；—you　know；　Eva；　nobody　does。”
Eva　did　not　speak；　her　eyes　were　fixed　and　thoughtful　for　a　few　moments。
“At　any　rate；”　she　said；　“dear　Cousin；　do　love　poor　Dodo；　and　be　kind　to　him；　for　my　sake！”
“I　could　love　anything；　for　your　sake；　dear　Cousin；　for　I　really　think　you　are　the　loveliest　creature　that　I　ever　saw！”　And　Henrique　spoke　with　an　earnestness　that　flushed　his　handsome　face。　Eva　received　it　with　perfect　simplicity；　without　even　a　change　of　feature；　merely　saying；　“I’m　glad　you　feel　so；　dear　Henrique！　I　hope　you　will　remember。”
The　dinner…bell　put　an　end　to　the　interview。
1　In　August　1791；　as　a　consequence　of　the　French　Revolution；　the　black　slaves　and　mulattoes　on　Haiti　rose　in　revolt　against　the　whites；　and　in　the　period　of　turmoil　that　followed　enormous　cruelties　were　practised　by　both　sides。　The　“Emperor”　Dessalines；　come　to　power　in　1804；　massacred　all　the　whites　on　the　island。　Haitian　bloodshed　became　an　argument　to　show　the　barbarous　nature　of　the　Negro；　a　doctrine　Wendell　Phillips　sought　to　combat　in　his　celebrated　lecture　on　Toussaint　L’Ouverture。
Chapter　24
Foreshadowings
Two　days　after　this；　Alfred　St。　Clare　and　Augustine　parted；　and　Eva；　who　had　been　stimulated；　by　the　society　of　her　young　cousin；　to　exertions　beyond　her　strength；　began　to　fail　rapidly。　St。　Clare　was　at　last　willing　to　call　in　medical　advice；—a　thing　from　which　he　had　always　shrunk；　because　it　was　the　admission　of　an　unwelcome　truth。
But；　for　a　da