死亡约会 Part I Chapter 5（3）

（单词翻译）

 

‘They all live at home?’ asked the doctor.

‘Yes.’

‘Do neither of the sons work?’

‘Why, no. Elmer Boynton was a rich man. He left all his money to Mrs Boynton for her lifetime—but it was understood that it was for the family upkeep generally.’

‘So they are dependent on her financially?’

‘That is so. And she’s encouraged them to live at home and not go out and look for jobs. Well,maybe that’s all right, there’s plenty of money, they don’t need to take a job, but I think for themale sex, anyway, work’s a good tonic¹. Then, there’s another thing—they’ve none of them gotany hobbies. They don’t play golf. They don’t belong to any country club. They don’t go aroundto dances or do anything with the other young people. They live in a great barrack of a house waydown in the country miles from anywhere. I tell you, Dr Gerard, it seems all wrong to me.’

‘I agree with you,’ said Dr Gerard.

‘Not one of them has got the least social sense. The community spirit—that’s what’s lacking!

They may be a very devoted² family, but they’re all bound up in themselves.’

‘There has never been any question of one or other of them branching out for him or herself?’

‘Not that I’ve heard of. They just sit around.’

‘Do you put the blame for that on them or on Mrs Boynton?’

Jefferson Cope shifted uneasily.

‘Well, in a sense, I feel she is more or less responsible. It’s bad bringing-up on her part. All thesame, when a young fellow comes to maturity³ it’s up to him to kick over the traces of his ownaccord. No boy ought to keep on being tied to his mother’s apron⁴ strings⁵. He ought to choose to beindependent.’

Dr Gerard said thoughtfully: ‘That might be impossible.’

‘Why impossible?’

‘There are methods, Mr Cope, of preventing a tree from growing.’

Cope stared. ‘They’re a fine healthy lot, Dr Gerard.’

‘The mind can be stunted⁶ and warped⁷ as well as the body.’

‘They’re bright mentally, too.’

Jefferson Cope went on: ‘No, Dr Gerard, take it from me, a man has got the control of his owndestiny right there in his own hands. A man who respects himself strikes out on his own andmakes something of his life. He doesn’t just sit round and twiddle his thumbs. No woman ought torespect a man who does that.’

Gerard looked at him curiously⁸ for a minute or two. Then he said: ‘You refer particularly, Ithink, to Mr Lennox Boynton?’

‘Why, yes, it was Lennox I was thinking of. Raymond’s only a boy still. But Lennox is just onthirty. Time he showed he was made of something.’

‘It is a difficult life, perhaps, for his wife?’

‘Of course it’s a difficult life for her! Nadine is a very fine girl. I admire her more than I can say.

She’s never let drop one word of complaint. But she’s not happy, Dr Gerard. She’s just as unhappyas she can be.’

Gerard nodded his head.

‘Yes, I think that well might be.’

‘I don’t know what you think about it, Dr Gerard, but I think that there’s a limit to what awoman ought to put up with! If I were Nadine I’d put it to young Lennox straight. Either he sets toand proves what he’s made of, or else—’

‘Or else, you think, she should leave him?’

‘She’s got her own life to live, Dr Gerard. If Lennox doesn’t appreciate her as she ought to beappreciated—well, there are other men who will.’

‘There is—yourself, for instance?’

The American flushed. Then he looked straight at the other with a certain simple dignity.

‘That’s so,’ he said. ‘I’m not ashamed of my feeling for that lady. I respect her and I am verydeeply attached to her. All I want is her happiness. If she were happy with Lennox, I’d sit rightback and fade out of the picture.’

‘But as it is?’

‘But as it is I’m standing⁹ by! If she wants me, I’m here!’

‘You are, in fact, the parfait gentil knight,’ murmured Gerard.

‘Pardon?’

‘My dear sir, chivalry¹⁰ only lives nowadays in the American nation! You are content to serveyour lady without hope of reward! It is most admirable, that! What exactly do you hope to be ableto do for her?’

‘My idea is to be right here at hand if she needs me.’

‘And what, may I ask, is the older Mrs Boynton’s attitude towards you?’

Jefferson Cope said slowly: ‘I’m never quite sure about that old lady. As I’ve told you, she isn’tfond of making outside contacts. But she’s been different to me, she’s always very gracious andtreats me quite like one of the family.’

‘In fact, she approves of your friendship with Mrs Lennox?’

‘She does.’

Dr Gerard shrugged¹¹ his shoulders.

‘That is, perhaps, a little odd?’

Jefferson Cope said stiffly: ‘Let me assure you, Dr Gerard, there is nothing dishonourable in thatfriendship. It is purely¹² platonic¹³.’

‘My dear sir, I am quite sure of that. I repeat, though, that for Mrs Boynton to encourage thatfriendship is a curious action on her part. You know, Mr Cope, Mrs Boynton interests me—sheinterests me greatly.’

‘She is certainly a remarkable¹⁴ woman. She has great force of character—a most prominentpersonality. As I say, Elmer Boynton had the greatest faith in her judgement.’

‘So much so that he was content to leave his children completely at her mercy from the financialpoint of view. In my country, Mr Cope, it is impossible by law to do such a thing.’

Mr Cope rose. ‘In America,’ he said, ‘we’re great believers in absolute freedom.’

Dr Gerard rose also. He was unimpressed by the remark. He had heard it made before by peopleof many different nationalities. The illusion that freedom is the prerogative¹⁵ of one’s own particularrace is fairly widespread.

Dr Gerard was wiser. He knew that no race, no country and no individual could be described asfree. But he also knew that there were different degrees of bondage¹⁶.

He went up to bed thoughtful and interested.