clotelle(有色女英雄)-第25部分
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at night； and； by continued study and attention to business； he was soon
promoted。
After three years in his new home； Jerome was placed in a still higher
position； where his salary amounted to fifteen hundred dollars a year。 The
drinking； smoking； and other expensive habits； which the clerks usually
indulged in； he carefully avoided。
Being fond of poetry； he turned his attention to literature。 Johnson's
〃Lives of the Poets；〃 the writings of Dryden； Addison； Pope； Clarendon；
and other authors of celebrity； he read with attention。 The knowledge
which he thus picked up during his leisure hours gave him a great
advantage over the other clerks； and caused his employers to respect him
far more than any other in their establishment。 So eager was he to improve
the time that he determined to see how much he could read during the
unemployed time of night and morning； and his success was beyond his
expectations。
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CHAPTER XXX
NEW FRIENDS
BROKEN down in health； after ten years of close confinement in his
situation； Jerome resolved to give it up； and thereby release himself from
an employment which seemed calculated to send him to a premature
grave。
It was on a beautiful morning in summer that he started for Scotland；
having made up his mind to travel for his health。 After visiting Edinburgh
and Glasgow； he concluded to spend a few days in the old town of Perth；
with a friend whose acquaintance he had made in Manchester。 During
the second day of his stay in Perth； while crossing the main street； Jerome
saw a pony…chaise coming toward him with great speed。 A lady； who
appeared to be the only occupant of the vehicle； was using her utmost
strength to stop the frightened horses。 The footman； in his fright； had
leaped from behind the carriage； and was following with the crowd。
With that self…forgetfulness which was one of his chief characteristics；
Jerome threw himself before the horses to stop them； and； seizing the
high…spirited animals by the bit； as they dashed by him； he was dragged
several rods before their speed was checked； which was not accomplished
until one of the horses had fallen to the ground； with the heroic man
struggling beneath him。
All present were satisfied that this daring act alone had saved the
lady's life； for the chaise must inevitably have been dashed in pieces； had
the horses not been thus suddenly checked in their mad career。
On the morning following this perilous adventure； Col。 G called at
Jerome's temporary residence； and； after expressing his admiration for his
noble daring； and thanking him for having saved his daughter's life；
invited him to visit him at his country residence。 This invitation was
promptly accepted in the spirit in which it was given； and three days after；
Jerome found himself at the princely residence of the father of the lady for
whose safety he had risked his own life。 The house was surrounded by fine
trees； and a sweet little stream ran murmuring at the foot； while beds of
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flowers on every hand shed their odors on the summer air。 It was； indeed；
a pleasant place to spend the warm weather； and the colonel and his family
gave Jerome a most cordial welcome。 Miss G。 showed especial attention to
the stranger。 He had not intended remaining longer than the following day：
but the family insisted on his taking part in a fox…hunt that was to come off
on the morning of the third day。 Wishing to witness a scene as interesting
as the chase usually proves to be； he decided to remain。
Fifteen persons； five of whom were ladies； were on the ground at the
appointed hour。 Miss G。 was； of course； one of the party。 In vain Jerome
endeavored to excuse himself from joining in the chase。 His plea of ill…
health was only met by smiles from the young ladies； and the reply that a
ride would effect a cure。
Dressed in a scarlet coat and high boots； with the low； round cap worn
in the chase； Jerome mounted a high…spirited horse； whip in hand； and
made himself one of the party。 In America； riding is a necessity； in
England； it is a pleasure。 Young men and women attend riding…school in
our fatherland； and consider that they are studying a science。 Jerome was
no rider。 He had not been on horseback for more than ten years； and as
soon as he mounted； every one saw that he was a novice； and a smile was
on the countenance of each member of the company。
The blowing of the horn； and assembling of the hounds； and finally the
release of the fox from his close prison； were the signals for the chase to
commence。 The first half…mile the little animal took his course over a
beautiful field where there was neither hedge nor ditch。 Thus far the
chase was enjoyed by all； even by the American rider； who was better
fitted to witness the scene than to take part in it。
We left Jerome in our last reluctantly engaged in the chase； and though
the first mile or so of the pursuit； which was over smooth meadow…land；
had had an exhilarating effect upon his mind； and tended somewhat to
relieve him of the embarrassment consequent upon his position； he
nevertheless still felt that he was far from being in his proper element。
Besides； the fox had now made for a dense forest which lay before； and he
saw difficulties in that direction which to him appeared insurmountable。
Away went the huntsmen； over stone walls； high fences； and deep
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ditches。 Jerome saw the ladies even leading the gentlemen； but this could
not inspire him。 They cleared the fences； four and five feet high with
perfect ease； showing they were quite at home in the saddle。 But alas for
the poor American！ As his fine steed came up to the first fence； and was
about to make the leap； Jerome pulled at the bridle； and cried at the top of
his voice； 〃Whoa！ whoa！ whoa！〃 the horse at the same time capering about；
and appearing determined to keep up with the other animals。
Away dashed the huntsmen； following the hounds； and all were soon
lost to the view of their colored companion。 Jerome rode up and down the
field looking for a gate or bars； that he might get through without risking
his neck。 Finding； however； that all hope of again catching up with the
party was out of the question； he determined to return to the house； under a
plea of sudden illness； and back he accordingly went。
〃I hope no accident has happened to your honor；〃 said the groom； as he
met our hero at the gate。
〃A slight dizziness；〃 was the answer。
One of the servants； without being ordered； went at once for the family
physician。 Ashamed to own that his return was owing to his inability to
ride； Jerome resolved to feign sickness。 The doctor came； felt his pulse；
examined his tongue； and pronounced him a sick man。 He immediately
ordered a tepid bath； and sent for a couple of leeches。
Seeing things taking such a serious turn； the American began to regret
the part he was playing； for there was no fun in being rubbed and leeched
when one was in perfect health。 He had gone too far to recede； however；
and so submitted quietly to the directions of the doctor； and； after
following the injunctions given by that learned Esculapius； was put to bed。
Shortly after； the sound of the horns and the yelp of the hounds
announced that the poor fox had taken the back track； and was repassing
near the house。 Even the pleasure of witnessing the beautiful sight from
the window was denied our hero； for the physician had ordered that he
must be kept in perfect quiet。
The chase was at last over； and the huntsmen all in； sympathizing with
their lost companion。 After nine days of sweating； blistering； and
leeching； Jerome left his bed convalescent； but much reduced in flesh and
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strength。 This was his first and last attempt to follow the fox and hounds。
During his fortnight's stay at Colonel G。'； Jerome spent most of his
time in the magnificent library。 Claude did not watch with more interest
every color of the skies； the trees； the grass； and the water； to learn from
nature； than did this son of a despised race search books to obtain that
knowledge which his early life as a slave had denied him。
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CHAPTER XXXI
THE MYSTERI
