博炮作文网>看见死亡的双眼 > 第22章 法官的房子7（第1页）
第22章 法官的房子7（第1页）
Againhewascalledtohisimmediatesurroundingssuddenly。Thistimeitmightnothavebeenthesuddensilenceonlywhichtookhisattention;therewasaslightmovementoftheroe，andthelammoved。Withoutstirring，helookedtoseeifhisileofbookswaswithinrange，andthencasthiseyealongtheroe。Ashelookedhesawthegreatratdrofromtheroeontheoakarmchairandsitthereglaringathim。Heraisedabookinhisrighthand，andtakingcarefulaim，flungitattherat。Thelatter，withaquickmovement，srangasideanddodgedthemissile。Hethentookanotherbook，andathird，andflungthemoneafteranotherattherat，buteachtimeunsuccessfully。Atlast，ashestoodwithabookoisedinhishandtothrow，theratsqueakedandseemedafraid。ThismadeMalcolmsonmorethanevereagertostrike，andthebookflewandstrucktherataresoundingblow。Itgaveaterrifiedsqueak，andturningonhisursueralookofterriblemalevolence，ranuthechair-backandmadeagreatjumtotheroeofthealarmbellandranuitlikelightning。Thelamrockedunderthesuddenstrain，butitwasaheavyoneanddidnottoleover。Malcolmsonkethiseyesontherat，andsawitbythelightofthesecondlamleatoamouldingofthewainscotanddisaearthroughaholeinoneofthegreatictureswhichhungonthewall，obscuredandinvisiblethroughitscoatingofdirtanddust。
"Ishalllookumyfriendshabitationinthemorning，
"saidthestudent，ashewentovertocollecthisbooks。
"Thethirdicturefromthefirelace;Ishallnotforget。
"Heickeduthebooksonebyone，commentingonthemasheliftedthem。
"ConicSectionshedoesnotmind，norCycloidalOscillations，northePrinciia，norQuaternions，norThermodynamics。Nowforthebookthatfetchedhim!
"Malcolmsontookituandlookedatit。Ashedidsohestarted，asuddenalloroversreadhisface。Helookedrounduneasilyandshiveredslightly，ashemurmuredtohimself:
"TheBiblemymothergaveme!Whatanoddcoincidence。
"Hesatdowntoworkagain，andtheratsinthewainscotrenewedtheirgambols。Theydidnotdisturbhim，however;somehowtheirresencegavehimasenseofcomanionshi。Buthecouldnotattendtohiswork，andafterstrivingtomasterthesubjectonwhichhewasengagedgaveituindesair，andwenttobedasthehefirststreakofdawnstoleinthroughtheeasternwindow。
Hesletheavilybutuneasily，anddreamedmuch;andwhenMrs。Demsterwokehimlateinthemorningheseemedillatease，andforafewminutesdidnotseemtorealiseexactlywherehewas。Hisfirstrequestrathersurrisedtheservant。
"Mrs。Demster，whenIamouttodayIwishyouwouldgetthestesanddustorwashthoseictures—seciallythatonethethirdfromthefirelace—Iwanttoseewhattheyare。
"
LateintheafternoonMalcolmsonworkedathisbooksintheshadedwalk，andthecheerfulnessofthereviousdaycamebacktohimasthedayworeon，andhefoundthathisreadingwasrogressingwell。Hehadworkedouttoasatisfactoryconclusionalltheroblemswhichhadasyetbaffledhim，anditwasinastateofjubilationthatheaidavisittoMrs。Withamat
"TheGoodTraveller。
"Hefoundastrangerinthecosysitting-roomwiththelandlady，whowasintroducedtohimasDr。Thornhill。Shewasnotquiteatease，andthis，combinedwiththedoctorslungingatonceintoaseriesofquestions，madeMalcolmsoncometotheconclusionthathisresencewasnotanaccident，sowithoutreliminaryhesaid:
"Dr。Thornhill，Ishallwithleasureansweryouanyquestionyoumaychoosetoaskmeifyouwillanswermyonequestionfirst。
"
Thedoctorseemedsurrised，buthesmiledandansweredatonce，
"Done!Whatisit?
"
"DidMrs。Withamaskyoutocomehereandseemeandadviseme?
"
Dr。Thornhillforamomentwastakenaback，andMrs。Withamgotfieryredandturnedaway;butthedoctorwasafrankandreadyman，andheansweredatonceandoenly。
"Shedid:butshedidntintendyoutoknowit。Isuoseitwasmyclumsyhastehatmadeyoususect。Shetoldmethatshedidnotliketheideaofyourbeinginthathouseallbyyourself，andthatshethoughtyoutooktoomuchstrongtea。Infact，shewantsmetoadviseyouifossibletogiveutheteaandtheverylatehours。Iwasasakeenstudentinmytime，soIsuoseImaytakethelibertyofacollegeman，andwithoutoffence，adviseyounotquiteasastranger。
