英语天堂-第63章

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rinciple　to　endure　everything　in　silence；　it’s　a　wife’s　hard　lot；　and　I　bear　it。　But　I　did　break　out；　that　time；　so　that　he　has　never　alluded　to　the　subject　since。　But　I　know　by　his　looks；　and　little　things　that　he　says；　that　he　thinks　so　as　much　as　ever；　and　it’s　so　trying；　so　provoking！”
Miss　Ophelia　looked　very　much　as　if　she　was　afraid　she　should　say　something；　but　she　rattled　away　with　her　needles　in　a　way　that　had　volumes　of　meaning　in　it；　if　Marie　could　only　have　understood　it。
“So；　you　just　see；”　she　continued；　“what　you’ve　got　to　manage。　A　household　without　any　rule；　where　servants　have　it　all　their　own　way；　do　what　they　please；　and　have　what　they　please；　except　so　far　as　I；　with　my　feeble　health；　have　kept　up　government。　I　keep　my　cowhide　about；　and　sometimes　I　do　lay　it　on；　but　the　exertion　is　always　too　much　for　me。　If　St。　Clare　would　only　have　this　thing　done　as　others　do—”
“And　how’s　that？”
“Why；　send　them　to　the　calaboose；　or　some　of　the　other　places　to　be　flogged。　That’s　the　only　way。　If　I　wasn’t　such　a　poor；　feeble　piece；　I　believe　I　should　manage　with　twice　the　energy　that　St。　Clare　does。”
“And　how　does　St。　Clare　contrive　to　manage？”　said　Miss　Ophelia。　“You　say　he　never　strikes　a　blow。”
“Well；　men　have　a　more　commanding　way；　you　know；　it　is　easier　for　them；　besides；　if　you　ever　looked　full　in　his　eye；　it’s　peculiar；—that　eye；—and　if　he　speaks　decidedly；　there’s　a　kind　of　flash。　I’m　afraid　of　it；　myself；　and　the　servants　know　they　must　mind。　I　couldn’t　do　as　much　by　a　regular　storm　and　scolding　as　St。　Clare　can　by　one　turn　of　his　eye；　if　once　he　is　in　earnest。　O；　there’s　no　trouble　about　St。　Clare；　that’s　the　reason　he’s　no　more　feeling　for　me。　But　you’ll　find；　when　you　come　to　manage；　that　there’s　no　getting　along　without　severity；—they　are　so　bad；　so　deceitful；　so　lazy”。
“The　old　tune；”　said　St。　Clare；　sauntering　in。　“What　an　awful　acomount　these　wicked　creatures　will　have　to　settle；　at　last；　especially　for　being　lazy！　You　see；　cousin；”　said　he；　as　he　stretched　himself　at　full　length　on　a　lounge　opposite　to　Marie；　“it’s　wholly　inexcusable　in　them；　in　the　light　of　the　example　that　Marie　and　I　set　them；—this　laziness。”
“Come；　now；　St。　Clare；　you　are　too　bad！”　said　Marie。
“Am　I；　now？　Why；　I　thought　I　was　talking　good；　quite　remarkably　for　me。　I　try　to　enforce　your　remarks；　Marie；　always。”
“You　know　you　meant　no　such　thing；　St。　Clare；”　said　Marie。
“O；　I　must　have　been　mistaken；　then。　Thank　you；　my　dear；　for　setting　me　right。”
“You　do　really　try　to　be　provoking；”　said　Marie。
“O；　come；　Marie；　the　day　is　growing　warm；　and　I　have　just　had　a　long　quarrel　with　Dolph；　which　has　fatigued　me　excessively；　so；　pray　be　agreeable；　now；　and　let　a　fellow　repose　in　the　light　of　your　smile。”
“What’s　the　matter　about　Dolph？”　said　Marie。　“That　fellow’s　impudence　has　been　growing　to　a　point　that　is　perfectly　intolerable　to　me。　I　only　wish　I　had　the　undisputed　management　of　him　a　while。　I’d　bring　him　down！”
“What　you　say；　my　dear；　is　marked　with　your　usual　acuteness　and　good　sense；”　said　St。　Clare。　“As　to　Dolph；　the　case　is　this：　that　he　has　so　long　been　engaged　in　imitating　my　graces　and　perfections；　that　he　has；　at　last；　really　mistaken　himself　for　his　master；　and　I　have　been　obliged　to　give　him　a　little　insight　into　his　mistake。”
“How？”　said　Marie。
“Why；　I　was　obliged　to　let　him　understand　explicitly　that　I　preferred　to　keep　some　of　my　clothes　for　my　own　personal　wearing；　also；　I　put　his　magnificence　upon　an　allowance　of　cologne…water；　and　actually　was　so　cruel　as　to　restrict　him　to　one　dozen　of　my　cambric　handkerchiefs。　Dolph　was　particularly　huffy　about　it；　and　I　had　to　talk　to　him　like　a　father；　to　bring　him　round。”
“O！　St。　Clare；　when　will　you　learn　how　to　treat　your　servants？　It’s　abominable；　the　way　you　indulge　them！”　said　Marie。
“Why；　after　all；　what’s　the　harm　of　the　poor　dog’s　wanting　to　be　like　his　master；　and　if　I　haven’t　brought　him　up　any　better　than　to　find　his　chief　good　in　cologne　and　cambric　handkerchiefs；　why　shouldn’t　I　give　them　to　him？”
“And　why　haven’t　you　brought　him　up　better？”　said　Miss　Ophelia；　with　blunt　determination。
“Too　much　trouble；—laziness；　cousin；　laziness；—which　ruins　more　souls　than　you　can　shake　a　stick　at。　If　it　weren’t　for　laziness；　I　should　have　been　a　perfect　angel；　myself。　I’m　inclined　to　think　that　laziness　is　what　your　old　Dr。　Botherem；　up　in　Vermont；　used　to　call　the　‘essence　of　moral　evil。’　It’s　an　awful　consideration；　certainly。”
“I　think　you　slaveholders　have　an　awful　responsibility　upon　you；”　said　Miss　Ophelia。　“I　wouldn’t　have　it；　for　a　thousand　worlds。　You　ought　to　educate　your　slaves；　and　treat　them　like　reasonable　creatures；—like　immortal　creatures；　that　you’ve　got　to　stand　before　the　bar　of　God　with。　That’s　my　mind；”　said　the　good　lady；　breaking　suddenly　out　with　a　tide　of　zeal　that　had　been　gaining　strength　in　her　mind　all　the　morning。
“O！　come；　come；”　said　St。　Clare；　getting　up　quickly；　“what　do　you　know　about　us？”　And　he　sat　down　to　the　piano；　and　rattled　a　lively　piece　of　music。　St。　Clare　had　a　decided　genius　for　music。　His　touch　was　brilliant　and　firm；　and　his　fingers　flew　over　the　keys　with　a　rapid　and　bird…like　motion；　airy；　and　yet　decided。　He　played　piece　after　piece；　like　a　man　who　is　trying　to　play　himself　into　a　good　humor。　After　pushing　the　music　aside；　he　rose　up；　and　said；　gayly；　“Well；　now；　cousin；　you’ve　given　us　a　good　talk　and　done　your　duty；　on　the　whole；　I　think　the　better　of　you　for　it。　I　make　no　manner　of　doubt　that　you　threw　a　very　diamond　of　truth　at　me；　though　you　see　it　hit　me　so　directly　in　the　face　that　it　wasn’t　exactly　appreciated；　at　first。”
“For　my　part；　I　don’t　see　any　use　in　such　sort　of　talk；”　said　Marie。　“I’m　sure；　if　anybody　does　more　for　servants　than　we　do；　I’d　like　to　know　who；　and　it　don’t　do　’em　a　bit　good；—not　a　particle；—they　get　worse　and　worse。　As　to　talking　to　them；　or　anything　like　that；　I’m　sure　I　have　talked　till　I　was　tired　and　hoarse；　telling　them　their　duty；　and　all　that；　and　I’m　sure　they　can　go　to　church　when　they　like；　though　they　don’t　understand　a　word　of　the　sermon；　more　than　so　many　pigs；—so　it　isn’t　of　any　great　use　for　them　to　go；　as　I　see；　but　they　do　go；　and　so　they　have　every　chance；　but；　as　I　said　before；　they　are　a　degraded　race；　and　always　will　be；　and　there　isn’t　any　help　for　them；　you　can’t　make　anything　of　them；　if　you　try。　You　see；　Cousin　Ophelia；　I’ve　tried；　and　you　haven’t；　I　was　born　and　bred　among　them；　and　I　know。”
Miss　Ophelia　thought　she　had　said　enough；　and　therefore　sat　silent。　St。　Clare　whistled　a　tune。
“St。　Clare；　I　wish　you　wouldn’t　whistle；”　said　Marie；　“it　makes　my　head　worse。”
“I　won’t；”　said　St。　Clare。　“Is　there　anything　else　you　wouldn’t　wish　me　to　do？”
“I　wish　you　would　have　some　kind　of　sympathy　for　my　trials；　you　never　have　any　feeling　for　me。”
“My　dear　acomusing　angel！”　said　St。　Clare。
“It’s　provoking　to　be　talked　to　in　that　way。”
“Then；　how　will　you　be　talked　to？　I’ll　talk　to　order；—any　way　you’ll　mention；—only　to　give　satisfaction。”
A　gay　laugh　from　the　court　rang　through　the　silken　curtains　of　the　verandah。　St。　Clare　stepped　out；　and　lifting　up　the　curtain；　laughed　too。
“What　is　it？”　said　Miss　Ophelia；　coming　to　the　railing。
There　sat　Tom；　on　a　little　mossy　seat　in　the　court；　every　one　of　his　button…holes　stuck　full　of　cape　jessamines；　and　Eva；　gayly　laughing；　was　hanging　a　wreath　of　roses　round　his　neck；　and　then　she　sat　down　on　his　knee；　like　a　chip…sparrow；　still　laughing。
“O；　Tom；　you　look　so　funny！”
Tom　had　a　sober；　benevolent　smile；　and　seemed；　in　his　quiet　way；　to　be　enjoying　the　fun　quite　as　much　as　his　little　mistress。　He　lifted　his　eyes；　when　he　saw　his　master；　with　a　half…deprecating；　apologetic　air。
“How　can　you　let　her？”　said　Miss　Ophelia。
“Why　not？”　said　St。　Clare。
“Why；　I　don’t　know；　it　seems　so　dreadful！”
“You　would　think　no　harm　in　a　child’s　caressing　a　large　dog；　even　if　he　was　black；　but　a　creature　that　can　think；　and　reason；　and　feel；　and　is　immortal；　you　shudder　at；　confess　it；　cousin。　I　know　the　feeling　among　some　of　you　northerners　well　enough。　Not　that　there　is　a　particle　of　virtue　in　our　not　having　it；　but　custom　with　us　does　what　Christianity　ought　to　do；—obliterates　the　feeling　of　personal　prejudice。　I　have　often　noticed；　in　my　travels　north；　how　much　stronger　this　was　with　you　than　with　us。　You　loathe　them　as　you　would　a　snake　or　a　toad；　yet　you　are　indignant　at　their　wrongs。　You　would　not　have　them　abused；　but　you　don’t　want　to　have　anything　to　do　with　them　yourselves。　You　would　send　them　to　Africa；　out　of　your　sight　and　smell；　and　then　send　a　missionary　or　two　to　do　up　all　the　self…denial　of　elevating　them　compendiously。　Isn’t　that　it？”
“Well；　cousin；”　said　Miss　Ophelia；　thoughtfully；　“there　may　be　some　truth　in　this。”
“What　would　the　poor　and　lowly　do；　without　children？”　said　St。　Clare；　leaning　on　the　railing；　and　watching　Eva；　as　she　tripped　off；　leading　Tom　with　her。　“Your　little　child　is　your　only　true　democrat。　Tom；　now　is　a　hero　to　Eva；　his　stories　are　wonders　in　her　eyes；　his　songs　and　Methodist　hymns　are　better　than　an　opera；　and　the　traps　and　little　bits　of　trash　in　his　pocket　a　mine　of　jewels；　and　he　the　most　wonderful　Tom　that　ever　wore　a　black　skin。　This　is　one　of　the　roses　of　Eden　that　the　Lord　has　dropped　down　expressly　for　the　poor　and　lowly；　who　get　few　enough　of　any　other　kind。”
“It’s　strange；　cousin；”　said　Miss　Ophelia；　“one　might　almost　think　you　were　a　professor；　to　hear　you　talk。”
“A　professor？”　said　St。　Clare。
“Yes；　a　professor　of　religion。”
“Not　at　all；　not　a　professor；　as　your　town…folks　have　it；　and；　what　is　worse；　I’m　afraid；　not　a　practiser；　either。”
“What　makes　you　talk　so；　then？”
“Nothing　is　easier　than　talking；”　said　St。　Clare。　“I　believe　Shakespeare　makes　somebody　say；　‘I　could　sooner　show　twenty　what　were　good　to　be　done；　than　be　one　of　the　twenty　to　follow　my　own　showing。’1　Nothing　like　division　of　labor。　My　forte　lies　in　talking；　and　yours；　cousin；　lies　in　doing。”
In　Tom’s　external　situation；　at　this　time；　there　was；　as　the　world　says；　nothing　to　complain　of　Little　Eva’s　fancy　for　him—the　instinctive　gratitude　and　loveliness　of　a　noble　nature—had　led　her　to　petition　her　father　that　he　might　be　her　especial　attendant；　whenever　she　needed　the　escort　of　a　servant；　in　her　walks　or　rides；　and　Tom　had　general　orders　to　let　everything　else　go；　and　attend　to　Miss　Eva　whenever　she　wanted　him；—orders　which　our　readers　may　fancy　were　far　from　disagreeable　to　him。　He　was　kept　well　dressed；　for　St。　Clare　was　fastidiously　particular　on　this　point。　His　stable　services　were　merely　a　sinecure；　and　consisted　simply　in　a　daily　care　and　inspection；　and　directing　an　under…servant　in　his　duties；　for　Marie　St。　Clare　declared　that　she　could　not　have　any　smell　of　the　horses　about　him　when　he　came　near　her；　and　that　he　must　positively　not　be　put　to　any　service　that　would　make　him　unpleasant　to　her；　as　her　nervous　system　was　entirely　inadequate　to　any　trial　of　that　nature；　one　snuff　of　anything　disagreeable　being；　acomording　to　her　acomount；　quite　sufficient　to　close　the　scene；　and　put　an　end　to　all　her　earthly　trials