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！
early in the season； at least for a few days； while I looked about me
for a quiet place in which I might pass my summer。 I have found this
a pleasant residence。 By being up early and out late I have kept
myself mainly in the solitude which has become my enforced habit of
life。 The season has gone by too swiftly for me since my dream has
become a vision。〃
The doctor was sitting with his hand round Maurice's wrist； three
fingers on his pulse。 As he spoke these last words he noticed that
the pulse fluttered a little；beat irregularly a few times；
intermitted； became feeble and thready； while his cheek grew whiter
than the pallid bloodlessness of his long illness had left it。
〃No more talk； now；〃 he said。 〃You are too tired to be using your
voice。 I will hear all the rest another time。〃
The doctor had interrupted Maurice at an interesting point。 What did
he mean by saying that his dream had become a vision？ This is what
the doctor was naturally curious； and professionally anxious； to
know。 But his hand was still on his patient's pulse； which told him
unmistakably that the heart had taken the alarm and was losing its
energy under the depressing nervous influence。 Presently； however；
it recovered its natural force and rhythm； and a faint flush came
back to the pale cheek。 The doctor remembered the story of Galen；
and the young maiden whose complaint had puzzled the physicians。
The next day his patient was well enough to enter once more into
conversation。
〃You said something about a dream of yours which had become a
vision；〃 said the doctor； with his fingers on his patient's wrist； as
before。 He felt the artery leap； under his pressure； falter a
little； stop； then begin again； growing fuller in its beat。 The
heart had felt the pull of the bridle； but the spur had roused it to
swift reaction。
〃You know the story of my past life； doctor；〃 Maurice answered； 〃and；
I will tell you what is the vision which has taken the place of my
dreams。 You remember the boat…race？ I watched it from a distance；
but I held a powerful opera…glass in my hand； which brought the whole
crew of the young ladies' boat so close to me that I could see the
features； the figures； the movements； of every one of the rowers。 I
saw the little coxswain fling her bouquet in the track of the other
boat；you remember how the race was lost and won；but I saw one
face among those young girls which drew me away from all the rest。
It was that of the young lady who pulled the bow oar； the captain of
the boat's crew。 I have since learned her name； you know it well；I
need not name her。 Since that day I have had many distant glimpses
of her； and once I met her so squarely that the deadly sensation came
over me； and I felt that in another moment I should fall senseless at
her feet。 But she passed on her way and I on mine； and the spasm
which had clutched my heart gradually left it； and I was as well as
before。 You know that young lady； doctor？〃
〃I do； and she is a very noble creature。 You are not the first young
man who has been fascinated； almost at a glance； by Miss Euthymia
Tower。 And she is well worth knowing more intimately。〃
The doctor gave him a full account of the young lady； of her early
days； her character； her accomplishments。 To all this he listened
devoutly； and when the doctor left him he said to himself；
〃I will see her and speak with her； if it costs me my life。〃
XXII
EUTHYMIA。
〃The Wonder〃 of the Corinna Institute had never willingly made a show
of her gymnastic accomplishments。 Her feats； which were so much
admired； were only her natural exercise。 Gradually the dumb…bells
others used became too light for her； the ropes she climbed too
short； the clubs she exercised with seemed as if they were made of
cork instead of being heavy wood； and all the tests and meters of
strength and agility had been strained beyond the standards which the
records of the school had marked as their historic maxima。 It was
not her fault that she broke a dynamometer one day； she apologized
for it； but the teacher said he wished he could have a dozen broken
every year in the same way。 The consciousness of her bodily strength
had made her very careful in her movements。 The pressure of her hand
was never too hard for the tenderest little maiden whose palm was
against her own。 So far from priding herself on her special gifts；
she was disposed to be ashamed of them。 There were times and places
in which she could give full play to her muscles without fear or
reproach。 She had her special costume for the boat and for the
woods。 She would climb the rugged old hemlocks now and then for the
sake of a wide outlook； or to peep into the large nest where a hawk；
or it may be an eagle； was raising her little brood of air…pirates。
There were those who spoke of her wanderings in lonely places as an
unsafe exposure。 One sometimes met doubtful characters about the
neighborhood； and stories weretold of occurrences which might well
frighten a young girl； and make her cautious of trusting herself
alone in the wild solitudes which surrounded the little village。。
Those who knew Euthymia thought her quite equal to taking care of
herself。 Her very look was enough to ensure the respect of any
vagabond who might cross her path； and if matters came to the worst
she would prove as dangerous as a panther。
But it was a pity to associate this class of thoughts with a noble
specimen of true womanhood。 Health； beauty； strength； were fine
qualities； and in all these she was rich。 She enjoyed all her
natural gifts； and thought little about them。 Unwillingly； but over…
persuaded by some of her friends； she had allowed her arm and hand to
be modelled。 The artists who saw the cast wondered if it would be
possible to get the bust of the maiden from whom it was taken。
Nobody would have dared to suggest such an idea to her except Lurida。
For Lurida sex was a trifling accident； to be disregarded not only in
the interests of humanity； but for the sake of art。
〃It is a shame；〃 she said to Euthymia； 〃that you will not let your
exquisitely moulded form be perpetuated in marble。 You have no right
to withhold such a model from the contemplation of your fellow…
creatures。 Think how rare it is to see a woman who truly represents
the divine idea！ You belong to your race； and not to yourself；at
least； your beauty is a gift not to be considered as a piece of
private property。 Look at the so…called Venus of Milo。 Do you
suppose the noble woman who was the original of that divinely chaste
statue felt any scruple about allowing the sculptor to reproduce her
pure； unblemished perfections？〃
Euthymia was always patient with her imaginative friend。 She
listened to her eloquent discourse； but she could not help blushing；
used as she was to Lurida's audacities。 〃The Terror's〃 brain had run
away with a large share of the blood which ought to have gone to the
nourishment of her general system。 She could not help admiring；
almost worshipping； a companion whose being was rich in the womanly
developments with which nature had so economically endowed herself。
An impoverished organization carries with it certain neutral
qualities which make its subject appear； in the presence of complete
manhood and womanhood； like a deaf…mute among speaking persons。 The
deep blush which crimsoned Euthymia's cheek at Lurida's suggestion
was in a strange contrast to her own undisturbed expression。 There
was a range of sensibilities of which Lurida knew far less than she
did of those many and difficult studies which had absorbed her vital
forces。 She was startled to see what an effect her proposal had
produced； for Euthymia was not only blushing； but there was a flame
in her eyes which she had hardly ever seen before。
〃Is this only your own suggestion？〃 Euthymia said； 〃or has some one
been putting the idea into your head？〃 The truth was that she had
happened to meet the Interviewer at the Library； one day； and she was
offended by the long； searching stare with which that individual had
honored her。 It occurred to her that he； or some such visitor to the
place； might have spoken of her to Lurida； or to some other person
who had repeated what was said to Lurida； as a good subject for the
art of the sculptor； and she felt all her maiden sensibilities
offended by the proposition。 Lurida could not understand her
excitement； but she was startled by it。 Natures which are
complementary of each other are liable to these accidental collisions
of feeling。 They get along very well together； none the worse for
their differences； until all at once the tender spot of one or the
other is carelessly handled in utter unconsciousness on the part of
the aggressor； and the exclamation； the outcry； or the explosion
explains the situation altogether too emphatically。 Such scenes did