英语天堂-第62部分

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“Well；　I　only　hope　you　won’t　be　sorry　for　this；　when　it’s　too　late！”　said　Marie；　“but；　believe　it　or　not；　my　distress　about　Eva；　and　the　exertions　I　have　made　with　that　dear　child；　have　developed　what　I　have　long　suspected。”
What　the　exertions　were　which　Marie　referred　to；　it　would　have　been　difficult　to　state。　St。　Clare　quietly　made　this　commentary　to　himself；　and　went　on　smoking；　like　a　hard…hearted　wretch　of　a　man　as　he　was；　till　a　carriage　drove　up　before　the　verandah；　and　Eva　and　Miss　Ophelia　alighted。
Miss　Ophelia　marched　straight　to　her　own　chamber；　to　put　away　her　bonnet　and　shawl；　as　was　always　her　manner；　before　she　spoke　a　word　on　any　subject；　while　Eva　came；　at　St：　Clare’s　call；　and　was　sitting　on　his　knee；　giving　him　an　acomount　of　the　services　they　had　heard。
They　soon　heard　loud　exclamations　from　Miss　Ophelia’s　room；　which；　like　the　one　in　which　they　were　sitting；　opened　on　to　the　verandah　and　violent　reproof　addressed　to　somebody。
“What　new　witchcraft　has　Tops　been　brewing？”　asked　St。　Clare。　“That　commotion　is　of　her　raising；　I’ll　be　bound！”
And；　in　a　moment　after；　Miss　Ophelia；　in　high　indignation；　came　dragging　the　culprit　along。
“Come　out　here；　now！”　she　said。　“I　will　tell　your　master！”
“What’s　the　case　now？”　asked　Augustine。
“The　case　is；　that　I　cannot　be　plagued　with　this　child；　any　longer！　It’s　past　all　bearing；　flesh　and　blood　cannot　endure　it！　Here；　I　locked　her　up；　and　gave　her　a　hymn　to　study；　and　what　does　she　do；　but　spy　out　where　I　put　my　key；　and　has　gone　to　my　bureau；　and　got　a　bonnet…trimming；　and　cut　it　all　to　pieces　to　make　dolls’jackets！　I　never　saw　anything　like　it；　in　my　life！”
“I　told　you；　Cousin；”　said　Marie；　“that　you’d　find　out　that　these　creatures　can’t　be　brought　up　without　severity。　If　I　had　my　way；　now；”　she　said；　looking　reproachfully　at　St。　Clare；　“I’d　send　that　child　out；　and　have　her　thoroughly　whipped；　I’d　have　her　whipped　till　she　couldn’t　stand！”
“I　don’t　doubt　it；”　said　St。　Clare。　“Tell　me　of　the　lovely　rule　of　woman！　I　never　saw　above　a　dozen　women　that　wouldn’t　half　kill　a　horse；　or　a　servant；　either；　if　they　had　their　own　way　with　them！—let　alone　a　man。”
“There　is　no　use　in　this　shilly…shally　way　of　yours；　St。　Clare！”　said　Marie。　“Cousin　is　a　woman　of　sense；　and　she　sees　it　now；　as　plain　as　I　do。”
Miss　Ophelia　had　just　the　capability　of　indignation　that　belongs　to　the　thorough…paced　housekeeper；　and　this　had　been　pretty　actively　roused　by　the　artifice　and　wastefulness　of　the　child；　in　fact；　many　of　my　lady　readers　must　own　that　they　should　have　felt　just　so　in　her　circumstances；　but　Marie’s　words　went　beyond　her；　and　she　felt　less　heat。
“I　wouldn’t　have　the　child　treated　so；　for　the　world；”　she　said；　“but；　I　am　sure；　Augustine；　I　don’t　know　what　to　do。　I’ve　taught　and　taught；　I’ve　talked　till　I’m　tired；　I’ve　whipped　her；　I’ve　punished　her　in　every　way　I　can　think　of；　and　she’s　just　what　she　was　at　first。”
“Come　here；　Tops；　you　monkey！”　said　St。　Clare；　calling　the　child　up　to　him。
Topsy　came　up；　her　round；　hard　eyes　glittering　and　blinking　with　a　mixture　of　apprehensiveness　and　their　usual　odd　drollery。
“What　makes　you　behave　so？”　said　St。　Clare；　who　could　not　help　being　amused　with　the　child’s　expression。
“Spects　it’s　my　wicked　heart；”　said　Topsy；　demurely；　“Miss　Feely　says　so。”
“Don’t　you　see　how　much　Miss　Ophelia　has　done　for　you？　She　says　she　has　done　everything　she　can　think　of。”
“Lor；　yes；　Mas’r！　old　Missis　used　to　say　so；　too。　She　whipped　me　a　heap　harder；　and　used　to　pull　my　har；　and　knock　my　head　agin　the　door；　but　it　didn’t　do　me　no　good！　I　spects；　if　they　’s　to　pull　every　spire　o’　har　out　o’　my　head；　it　wouldn’t　do　no　good；　neither；—I　’s　so　wicked！　Laws！　I　’s　nothin　but　a　nigger；　no　ways！”
“Well；　I　shall　have　to　give　her　up；”　said　Miss　Ophelia；　“I　can’t　have　that　trouble　any　longer。”
“Well；　I’d　just　like　to　ask　one　question；”　said　St。　Clare。
“What　is　it？”
“Why；　if　your　Gospel　is　not　strong　enough　to　save　one　heathen　child；　that　you　can　have　at　home　here；　all　to　yourself；　what’s　the　use　of　sending　one　or　two　poor　missionaries　off　with　it　among　thousands　of　just　such？　I　suppose　this　child　is　about　a　fair　sample　of　what　thousands　of　your　heathen　are。”
Miss　Ophelia　did　not　make　an　immediate　answer；　and　Eva；　who　had　stood　a　silent　spectator　of　the　scene　thus　far；　made　a　silent　sign　to　Topsy　to　follow　her。　There　was　a　little　glass…room　at　the　corner　of　the　verandah；　which　St。　Clare　used　as　a　sort　of　reading…room；　and　Eva　and　Topsy　disappeared　into　this　place。
“What’s　Eva　going　about；　now？”　said　St。　Clare；　“I　mean　to　see。”
And；　advancing　on　tiptoe；　he　lifted　up　a　curtain　that　covered　the　glass…door；　and　looked　in。　In　a　moment；　laying　his　finger　on　his　lips；　he　made　a　silent　gesture　to　Miss　Ophelia　to　come　and　look。　There　sat　the　two　children　on　the　floor；　with　their　side　faces　towards　them。　Topsy；　with　her　usual　air　of　careless　drollery　and　unconcern；　but；　opposite　to　her；　Eva；　her　whole　face　fervent　with　feeling；　and　tears　in　her　large　eyes。
“What　does　make　you　so　bad；　Topsy？　Why　won’t　you　try　and　be　good？　Don’t　you　love　anybody；　Topsy？”
“Donno　nothing　’bout　love；　I　loves　candy　and　sich；　that’s　all；”　said　Topsy。
“But　you　love　your　father　and　mother？”
“Never　had　none；　ye　know。　I　telled　ye　that；　Miss　Eva。”
“O；　I　know；”　said　Eva；　sadly；　“but　hadn’t　you　any　brother；　or　sister；　or　aunt；　or—”
“No；　none　on　’em；—never　had　nothing　nor　nobody。”
“But；　Topsy；　if　you’d　only　try　to　be　good；　you　might—”
“Couldn’t　never　be　nothin’　but　a　nigger；　if　I　was　ever　so　good；”　said　Topsy。　“If　I　could　be　skinned；　and　come　white；　I’d　try　then。”
“But　people　can　love　you；　if　you　are　black；　Topsy。　Miss　Ophelia　would　love　you；　if　you　were　good。”
Topsy　gave　the　short；　blunt　laugh　that　was　her　common　mode　of　expressing　incredulity。
“Don’t　you　think　so？”　said　Eva。
“No；　she　can’t　bar　me；　’cause　I’m　a　nigger！—she’d　’s　soon　have　a　toad　touch　her！　There　can’t　nobody　love　niggers；　and　niggers　can’t　do　nothin’！　I　don’t　care；”　said　Topsy；　beginning　to　whistle。
“O；　Topsy；　poor　child；　I　love　you！”　said　Eva；　with　a　sudden　burst　of　feeling；　and　laying　her　little　thin；　white　hand　on　Topsy’s　shoulder；　“I　love　you；　because　you　haven’t　had　any　father；　or　mother；　or　friends；—because　you’ve　been　a　poor；　abused　child！　I　love　you；　and　I　want　you　to　be　good。　I　am　very　unwell；　Topsy；　and　I　think　I　shan’t　live　a　great　while；　and　it　really　grieves　me；　to　have　you　be　so　naughty。　I　wish　you　would　try　to　be　good；　for　my　sake；—it’s　only　a　little　while　I　shall　be　with　you。”
The　round；　keen　eyes　of　the　black　child　were　overcast　with　tears；—large；　bright　drops　rolled　heavily　down；　one　by　one；　and　fell　on　the　little　white　hand。　Yes；　in　that　moment；　a　ray　of　real　belief；　a　ray　of　heavenly　love；　had　penetrated　the　darkness　of　her　heathen　soul！　She　laid　her　head　down　between　her　knees；　and　wept　and　sobbed；—while　the　beautiful　child；　bending　over　her；　looked　like　the　picture　of　some　bright　angel　stooping　to　reclaim　a　sinner。
“Poor　Topsy！”　said　Eva；　“don’t　you　know　that　Jesus　loves　all　alike？　He　is　just　as　willing　to　love　you；　as　me。　He　loves　you　just　as　I　do；—only　more；　because　he　is　better。　He　will　help　you　to　be　good；　and　you　can　go　to　Heaven　at　last；　and　be　an　angel　forever；　just　as　much　as　if　you　were　white。　Only　think　of　it；　Topsy！—you　can　be　one　of　those　spirits　bright；　Uncle　Tom　sings　about。”
“O；　dear　Miss　Eva；　dear　Miss　Eva！”　said　the　child；　“I　will　try；　I　will　try；　I　never　did　care　nothin’　about　it　before。”
St。　Clare；　at　this　instant；　dropped　the　curtain。　“It　puts　me　in　mind　of　mother；”　he　said　to　Miss　Ophelia。　“It　is　true　what　she　told　me；　if　we　want　to　give　sight　to　the　blind；　we　must　be　willing　to　do　as　Christ　did；—call　them　to　us；　and　put　our　hands　on　them。”
“I’ve　always　had　a　prejudice　against　negroes；”　said　Miss　Ophelia；　“and　it’s　a　fact；　I　never　could　bear　to　have　that　child　touch　me；　but；　I　don’t　think　she　knew　it。”
“Trust　any　child　to　find　that　out；”　said　St。　Clare；　“there’s　no　keeping　it　from　them。　But　I　believe　that　all　the　trying　in　the　world　to　benefit　a　child；　and　all　the　substantial　favors　you　can　do　them；　will　never　excite　one　emotion　of　gratitude；　while　that　feeling　of　repugnance　remains　in　the　heart；—it’s　a　queer　kind　of　a　fact；—but　so　it　is。”
“I　don’t　know　how　I　can　help　it；”　said　Miss　Ophelia；　“they　are　disagreeable　to　me；—this　child　in　particular；—how　can　I　help　feeling　so？”
“Eva　does；　it　seems。”
“Well；　she’s　so　loving！　After　all；　though；　she’s　no　more　than　Christ…like；”　said　Miss　Ophelia；　“I　wish　I　were　like　her。　She　might　teach　me　a　lesson。”
“It　wouldn’t　be　the　first　time　a　little　child　had　been　used　to　instruct　an　old　disciple；　if　it　were　so；”　said　St。　Clare。
Chapter　26
Death
Weep　not　for　those　whom　the　veil　of　the　tomb；
In　life’s　early　morning；　hath　hid　from　our　eyes。1
Eva’s　bed…room　was　a　spacious　apartment；　which；　like　all　the　other　robins　in　the　house；　opened　on　to　the　broad　verandah。　The　room　communicated；　on　one　side；　with　her　father　and　mother’s　apartment；　on　the　other；　with　that　appropriated　to　Miss　Ophelia。　St。　Clare　had　gratified　his　own　eye　and　taste；　in　furnishing　this　room　in　a　style　that　had　a　peculiar　keeping　with　the　character　of　her　for　whom　it　was　intended。　The　windows　were　hung　with　curtains　of　rose…colored　and　white　muslin；　the　floor　was　spread　with　a　matting　which　had　been　ordered　in　Paris；　to　a　pattern　of　his　own　device；　having　round　it　a　border　of　rose…buds　and　leaves；　and　a　centre…piece　with　full…flown　roses。　The　bedstead；　chairs；　and　lounges；　were　of　bamboo；　wrought　in　peculiarly　graceful　and　fanciful　patterns。　Over　the　head　of　the　bed　was　an　alabaster　bracket；　on　which　a　beautiful　sculptured　angel　stood；　with　drooping　wings；　holding　out　a　crown　of　myrtle…leaves。　From　this　depended；　over　the　bed；　light　curtains　of　rose…colored　gauze；　striped　with　silver；　supplying　that　protection　from　mosquitos　which　is　an　indispensable　addition　to　all　sleeping　acomommodation　in　that　climate。　The　graceful　bamboo　lounges　were　amply　supplied　with　cushions　of　rose…colored　damask；　while　over　them；　depending　from　the　hands　of　sculptured　figures；　were　gauze　curtains　similar　to　those　of　the　bed。　A　light；　fanciful　bamboo　table　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　where　a　Parian　vase；　wrought　in　the　shape　of　a　white　lily；　with　its　buds；　stood；　ever　filled　with　flowers。　On　this　table　lay　Eva’s　books　and　little　trinkets；　with　an　elegantly　wrought　alabaster　writing…stand；　which　her　father　had　supplied　to　her　when　he　saw　her　trying　to　improve　herself　in　writing。　There　was　a　fireplace　in　the　room；　and　on　the　marble　mantle　above　stood　a　beautifully　wrought　statuette　of　Jesus　receiving　little　children；　and　on　either　side　marble　vases；　for　which　it　was　Tom’s　pride　and　delight　to　offer　bouquets　every　morning。　Two　or　three　exquisite　paintings　of　children；　in　various　attitudes；　embellished　the　wall。　In　short；　the　eye　could　turn　nowhere　without　meeting　images　of　childhood；　of　beauty；　and　of　peace。　Those　little　eyes　never　opened；　in　the　morning　light；　without　falling　on　something　which　suggested　to　the　heart　soothing　and　beautiful　thoughts。
The　deceitful　strength　which　had　buoyed　Eva　up　for　a　little　while　was　fast　passing　away；　seldom　and　more　seldom　her　light　footstep　was　heard　in　the　verandah；　and　oftener　and　oftener　she　was　found　reclined　on　a　little　lounge　by　the　open　window；　her　large；　deep　eyes　fixed　on　the　rising　and　falling　waters　of　the　lake。
It　was　towards　the　middle　of　the　afternoon；　as　she　was　so　reclining；—her　Bible　half　open；　her　little　transparent　fingers　lying　listlessly　between　the　leaves；—suddenly　she　heard　her　mother’s　voice；　in　sharp　tones；　in　the　verandah。
“What　now；　you　baggage！—what　new　piece　of　mischief！　You’ve　been　picking　the　flowers；　hey？”　and　Eva　heard　the　sound　of　a　smart　slap。
“Law；　Missis！　they　’s　for　Miss　Eva；”　she　heard　a　voice　say；　which　she　knew　belonged　to　Topsy。
“Miss　Eva！　A　pretty　excuse！—you　suppose　she　wants　your　flowers；　you　good…for…nothing　nigger！　Get　along　off　with　you！”
In　a　moment；　Eva　was　off　from　her　lounge；　and　in　the　verandah。
“O；　don’t；　mother！　I　should　like　the　flowers；　do　give　them　to　me；　I　want　them！”
“Why；　Eva；　your　room　is　full　now。”
“I　can’t　have　too　many；”　said　Eva。　“Topsy；　do　bring　them　here。”
Topsy；　who　had　stood　sullenly；　holding　down　her　head；　now　came　up　and　offered　her　flowers。　She　did　it　with　a　look　of　hesitation　and　bashfulness；　quite　unlike　the　eldrich　boldness　and　brightness　which　was　usual　with　her。
“It’s　a　beautiful　bouquet！”　said　Eva；　looking　at　it。
It　was　rather　a　singular　one；—a　brilliant　scarlet　geranium；　and　one　single　white　japonica；　with　its　glossy　leaves。　It　was　tied　up　with　an　evident　eye　to　the　contrast　of　color；　and　the　arrangement　of　every　leaf　had　carefully　been　studied。
Topsy　looked　pleased；　as　Eva　said；—“Topsy；　you　arrange　flowers　very　prettily。　Here；”　she　said；　“is　this　vase　I　haven’t　any　flowers　for。　I　wish　you’d　arrange　something　every　day　for　it。”
“Well；　that’s　odd！”　said　Marie。　“What　in　the　world　do　you　want　that　for？”
“Never　mind；　mamma；　you’d　as　lief　as　not　Topsy　should　do　it；—had　you　not？”
“Of　course；　anything　you　please；　dear！　Topsy；　you　hear　your　young　mistress；—see　that　you　mind。”
Topsy　made　a　short　courtesy；　and　looked　down；　and；　as　she　turned　away；　Eva　saw　a　tear　roll　down　her　dark　cheek。
“You　see；　mamma；　I　knew　poor　Topsy　wanted　to　do　something　for　me；”　said　Eva　to　her　mother。
“O；　nonsense！　it’s　only　because　she　likes　to　do　mischief。　She　knows　she　mustn’t　pick　flowers；—so　she　does　it；　that’s　all　there　is　to　it。　But；　if　you　fancy　to　have　her　pluck　them；　so　be　it。”
“Mamma；　I　think　Topsy　is　different　from　what　she　used　to　be；　she’s　trying　to　be　a　good　girl。”
“She’ll　have　to　try　a　good　while　before　she　gets　to　be　good；”　said　Marie；　with　a　careless　laugh。
“Well；　you　know；　mamma；　poor　Topsy！　everything　has　always　been　against　her。”
“Not　since　she’s　been　here；　I’m　sure。　If　she　hasn’t　been　talked　to；　and　preached　to；　and　every　earthly　thing　done　that　anybody　could　do；—and　she’s　just　so　ugly；　and　always　will　be；　you　can’t　make　anything　of　the　creature！”
“But；　mamma；　it’s　so　different　to　be　brought　up　as　I’ve　been；　with　so　many　friends；　so　many　things　to　make　me　good　and　happy；　and　to　be　brought　up　as　she’s　been；　all　the　time；　till　she　came　here！”
“Most　likely；”　said　Marie；　yawning；—“dear　me；　how　hot　it　is！”
“Mamma；　you　believe；　don’t　you；　that　Topsy　could　become　an　angel；　as　well　as　any　of　us；　if　she　were　a　Christian？”
“Topsy！　what　a　ridiculous　idea！　Nobody　but　you　would　ever　think　of　it。　I　suppose　she　could；　though。”
“But；　mamma；　isn’t　God　her　father；　as　much　as　ours？　Isn’t　Jesus　her　Saviour？”
“Well；　that　may　be。　I　suppose　God　made　everybody；”　said　Marie。　“Where　is　my　smelling…bottle？”
“It’s　such　a　pity；—oh！　such　a　pity！”　said　Eva；　looking　out　on　the　distant　lake；　and　speaking　half　to　herself。
“What’s　a　pity？”　said　Marie。
“Why；　that　any　one；　who　could　be　a　bright　angel；　and　live　with　angels；　should　go　all　down；　down　down；　and　nobody　help　them！—oh　dear！”
“Well；　we　can’t　help　it；　it’s　no　use　worrying；　Eva！　I　don’t　know　what’s　to　be　done；　we　ought　to　be　thankful　f