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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。