CHAPTER XIII
關燈
小
中
大
ornerofthesofa,thepictureofhealth,wealth,ease,andtranquillity,wasjustfallingintoagentledoze,whileFannywasgettingthroughthefewdifficultiesofherworkforher.
Edmundsmiledandshookhishead.
“ByJove!thiswon’tdo,”criedTom,throwinghimselfintoachairwithaheartylaugh.“Tobesure,mydearmother,youranxiety—Iwasunluckythere.”
“Whatisthematter?”askedherladyship,intheheavytoneofonehalf-roused“Iwasnotasleep.”
“Ohdear,no,ma’am,nobodysuspectedyou!Well,Edmund,”hecontinued,returningtotheformersubject,posture,andvoice,assoonasLadyBertrambegantonodagain,“butthisIwillmaintain,thatweshallbedoingnoharm.”
“IcannotagreewithyouIamconvincedthatmyfatherwouldtotallydisapproveit.”
“AndIamconvincedtothecontrary.Nobodyisfonderoftheexerciseoftalentinyoungpeople,orpromotesitmore,thanmyfather,andforanythingoftheacting,spouting,recitingkind,Ithinkhehasalwaysadecidedtaste.Iamsureheencourageditinusasboys.HowmanyatimehavewemournedoverthedeadbodyofJuliusCaesar,andtobe’dandnottobe’d,inthisveryroom,forhisamusement?AndIamsure,mynamewasNorval,everyeveningofmylifethroughoneChristmasholidays.”
“Itwasaverydifferentthing.Youmustseethedifferenceyourself.Myfatherwishedus,asschoolboys,tospeakwell,buthewouldneverwishhisgrown-updaughterstobeactingplays.Hissenseofdecorumisstrict.”
“Iknowallthat,”saidTom,displeased.“IknowmyfatheraswellasyoudoandI’lltakecarethathisdaughtersdonothingtodistresshim.Manageyourownconcerns,Edmund,andI’lltakecareoftherestofthefamily.”
“Ifyouareresolvedonacting,”repliedtheperseveringEdmund,“ImusthopeitwillbeinaverysmallandquietwayandIthinkatheatreoughtnottobeattempted.Itwouldbetakinglibertieswithmyfather’shouseinhisabsencewhichcouldnotbejustified.”
“ForeverythingofthatnatureIwillbeanswerable,”saidTom,inadecidedtone.“Hishouseshallnotbehurt.IhavequiteasgreataninterestinbeingcarefulofhishouseasyoucanhaveandastosuchalterationsasIwassuggestingjustnow,suchasmovingabookcase,orunlockingadoor,orevenasusingthebilliard-roomforthespaceofaweekwithoutplayingatbilliardsinit,youmightjustaswellsupposehewouldobjecttooursittingmoreinthisroom,andlessinthebreakfast-room,thanwedidbeforehewentaway,ortomysister’spianofortebeingmovedfromonesideoftheroomtotheother.Absolutenonsense!”
“Theinnovation,ifnotwrongasaninnovation,willbewrongasanexpense.”
“Yes,theexpenseofsuchanundertakingwouldbeprodigious!Perhapsitmightcostawholetwentypounds.Somethingofatheatrewemusthaveundoubtedly,butitwillbeonthesimplestplan:agreencurtainandalittlecarpenter’swork,andthat’sallandasthecarpenter’sworkmaybealldoneathomebyChristopherJacksonhimself,itwillbetooabsurdtotalkofexpenseandaslongasJacksonisemployed,everythingwillberightwithSirThomas.Don’timaginethatnobodyinthishousecanseeorjudgebutyourself.Don’tactyourself,ifyoudonotlikeit,butdon’texpecttogoverneverybodyelse.”
“No,astoactingmyself,”saidEdmund,“that
