奇书网>最后一片叶子 > 第41章 My Uncle Jules（第2页）
第41章 My Uncle Jules（第2页）
"Thewhistlesouonboard，andthevessel，leavier，fedaheadthroughaseaasflatasamarbletable。Wewatchedthecoastdisappeariance，happyandproud，likeallwhodonottravelmuch。
"Myfatherwasswellingouthisthebreeze，behhisfrockcoat，whichhadthatmbeenverycarefullydhespreadaroundhimthatodorofbenzinewhichalwaysmademereizeSunday。Suddeicedtwoelegantlydressedladiestowhomtwogentlemenwereoysters。Anedsailorehhisknifeandpassihegentlemen，whowouldtheotheladies。Theyatetheminadaintymanner，holdingtheshellonafinehandkerdadvahsalittleiospottheirdresses。Thentheywoulddrinktheliquididlittlemotionandthrowtheshelloverboard。
"Myfatherleasedwiththisdelierofeatingoystersonamovingship。Hesidereditgoodform，refined，and，goinguptomymotherandsisters，heasked:
"‘Wouldyoulikemetoofferyousomeoysters?’
"Mymotherhesitatedonatoftheexpewosistersimmediatelyaccepted。Mymothersaidinaprovokedmanner:
"Iamafraidthattheywillhurtmystomach。Offerthesome，butnottoomuakethemsick。'Then，turningtowardme，sheadded:
"‘AsforJoseph，hedoesn'tneedany。Boysshouldn'tbespoiled。’
"However，Iremaiher，findingthisdisationunjust。Iwatchedmyfatherashepompouslyytwosistersandhisson-in-lawtgedoldsailor。
"Thetwoladieshadjustleft，andmyfathershowedmysistershowtoeatthemwithoutspillingtheliquor。Heeveogivethemanexample，aer。Heattemptedtoimitatetheladies，aelyspilledalltheliquidoverhiscoat。Iheardmymothermutter:
"‘Hewoulddofarbettertokeepquiet。’
"But，suddenly，myfatherappearedtobeworried;heretreatedafewsteps，staredathisfamilygatheredaroundtheoldshellopener，andquicklycametowardus。Heseemedverypale，eculiarlook。Inalowvoicehesaidtomymother:
"‘It'sextraordinaryhoeerslookslikeJules。’
"Astoherasked:
"‘WhatJules?’
"Myfatherued:
"Why，mybrother。IfIdidnotknowthathewaswelloffinAmerica，Ishouldthinkitos;"Bewildered，mymotherstammered:
"‘Youarecrazy!Aslongasyouknowthatitisnothe，whydoyousaysuchfoolishthings?’
"Butmyfatherinsisted:
"‘Goonoverandsee，Clarisse!Iwouldratherhaveyouseewithyourowneyes。’
"Shearoseahters。I，too，waswatgtheman。Hewasold，dirty，wrinkled，anddidnotlifthiseyesfromhiswork。
"Mymotherreturicedthatshewastrembling。Sheexclaimedquickly:
"‘Ibelievethatitishe。os;tyouaskthe?Butbeverycarefulthatos;thavethisrogueain!’
"Myfatherwalkedaway，butIfollowedhim。Ifeltstrangelymoved。
"The，atall，thinman，withblondalkingaleortantairasifhewereandingtheIndianmailsteamer。
"Myfatheraddressedhimiously，aionedhimabouthisprofession，addingmanyents:
"‘Whatmightbetheimportadiditproduce?ulatiooms?Thehesoil?'etc。，etc。。’
"‘Youhavethereanoldshellopeeiing。Doyouknowanythingabouthim?’
"The，whomthisversatiooweary，answereddryly:
"‘HeissomeoldFrenchtrampwhomIfoundlastyearinAmeridIbroughthimback。Itseemsthathehassomerelativesihedoesn'twishtoreturntothembemoney。HisnameisJules-JulesDarmancheorDavrahiseemsthathewasoncerichoverthere，butyouseeos;sleftofhimnow。’
"Myfatherturnedashypaleahroattracted，hiseyeshaggard。
"‘Ah!ah!verywell，veryos;msurprised。Thankyouverymu。’
