英语天堂-第82章

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“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　day　or　two；　Eva　was　so　unwell　as　to　be　confined　to　the　house；　and　the　doctor　was　called。
Marie　St。　Clare　had　taken　no　notice　of　the　child’s　gradually　decaying　health　and　strength；　because　she　was　completely　absorbed　in　studying　out　two　or　three　new　forms　of　disease　to　which　she　believed　she　herself　was　a　victim。　It　was　the　first　principle　of　Marie’s　belief　that　nobody　ever　was　or　could　be　so　great　a　sufferer　as　herself；　and；　therefore；　she　always　repelled　quite　indignantly　any　suggestion　that　any　one　around　her　could　be　sick。　She　was　always　sure；　in　such　a　case；　that　it　was　nothing　but　laziness；　or　want　of　energy；　and　that；　if　they　had　had　the　suffering　she　had；　they　would　soon　know　the　difference。
Miss　Ophelia　had　several　times　tried　to　awaken　her　maternal　fears　about　Eva；　but　to　no　avail。
“I　don’t　see　as　anything　ails　the　child；”　she　would　say；　“she　runs　about；　and　plays。”
“But　she　has　a　cough。”
“Cough！　you　don’t　need　to　tell　me　about　a　cough。　I’ve　always　been　subject　to　a　cough；　all　my　days。　When　I　was　of　Eva’s　age；　they　thought　I　was　in　a　consumption。　Night　after　night；　Mammy　used　to　sit　up　with　me。　O！　Eva’s　cough　is　not　anything。”
“But　she　gets　weak；　and　is　short…breathed。”
“Law！　I’ve　had　that；　years　and　years；　it’s　only　a　nervous　affection。”
“But　she　sweats　so；　nights！”
“Well；　I　have；　these　ten　years。　Very　often；　night　after　night；　my　clothes　will　be　wringing　wet。　There　won’t　be　a　dry　thread　in　my　night…clothes　and　the　sheets　will　be　so　that　Mammy　has　to　hang　them　up　to　dry！　Eva　doesn’t　sweat　anything　like　that！”
Miss　Ophelia　shut　her　mouth　for　a　season。　But；　now　that　Eva　was　fairly　and　visibly　prostrated；　and　a　doctor　called；　Marie；　all　on　a　sudden；　took　a　new　turn。
“She　knew　it；”　she　said；　“she　always　felt　it；　that　she　was　destined　to　be　the　most　miserable　of　mothers。　Here　she　was；　with　her　wretched　health；　and　her　only　darling　child　going　down　to　the　grave　before　her　eyes；”—and　Marie　routed　up　Mammy　nights；　and　rumpussed　and　scolded；　with　more　energy　than　ever；　all　day；　on　t