Read Online Cousin Phillis by Elizabeth Gaskell - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Elizabeth Gaskell
Ads: Link
that
I was to ask Paul to be here as much as he could. I hope you'll find
yourself happy with us, I'm sure, sir. Has Phillis given you something
to eat and drink, I wonder? there's a deal in eating a little often, if
one has to get strong after an illness.' And then she began to question
him as to the details of his indisposition in her simple, motherly way.
He seemed at once to understand her, and to enter into friendly
relations with her. It was not quite the same in the evening when the
minister came home. Men have always a little natural antipathy to get
over when they first meet as strangers. But in this case each was
disposed to make an effort to like the other; only each was to each a
specimen of an unknown class. I had to leave the Hope Farm on Sunday
afternoon, as I had Mr Holdsworth's work as well as my own to look to
in Eltham; and I was not at all sure how things would go on during the
week that Holdsworth was to remain on his visit; I had been once or
twice in hot water already at the near clash of opinions between the
minister and my much-vaunted friend. On the Wednesday I received a
short note from Holdsworth; he was going to stay on, and return with me
on the following Sunday, and he wanted me to send him a certain list of
books, his theodolite, and other surveying instruments, all of which
could easily be conveyed down the line to Heathbridge. I went to his
lodgings and picked out the books. Italian, Latin, trigonometry; a
pretty considerable parcel they made, besides the implements. I began
to be curious as to the general progress of affairs at Hope Farm, but I
could not go over till the Saturday. At Heathbridge I found Holdsworth,
come to meet me. He was looking quite a different man to what I had
left him; embrowned, sparkles in his eyes, so languid before. I told
him how much stronger he looked.
'Yes!' said he. 'I am fidging fain to be at work again. Last week I
dreaded the thoughts of my employment: now I am full of desire to
begin. This week in the country has done wonders for me.'
'You have enjoyed yourself, then?'
'Oh! it has been perfect in its way. Such a thorough country life! and
yet removed from the dulness which I always used to fancy accompanied
country life, by the extraordinary intelligence of the minister. I have
fallen into calling him "the minister", like every one else.'
'You get on with him, then?' said I. 'I was a little afraid.'
'I was on the verge of displeasing him once or twice, I fear, with
random assertions and exaggerated expressions, such as one always uses
with other people, and thinks nothing of; but I tried to check myself
when I saw how it shocked the good man; and really it is very wholesome
exercise, this trying to make one's words represent one's thoughts,
instead of merely looking to their effect on others.'
'Then you are quite friends now?' I asked.
'Yes, thoroughly; at any rate as far as I go. I never met with a man
with such a desire for knowledge. In information, as far as it can be
gained from books, he far exceeds me on most subjects; but then I have
travelled and seen—Were not you surprised at the list of things I sent
for?'
'Yes; I thought it did not promise much rest.'
'Oh! some of the books were for the minister, and some for his
daughter. (I call her Phillis to myself, but I use XX in speaking about
her to others. I don't like to seem familiar, and yet Miss Holman is a
term I have never heard used.)'
'I thought the Italian books were for her.'
'Yes! Fancy her trying at Dante for her first book in Italian! I had a
capital novel by Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi, just the thing for a
beginner; and if she must still puzzle out Dante, my dictionary is far
better than hers.'
'Then she found out you had written those definitions on her list of
words?'
'Oh! yes'—with a smile of amusement and pleasure. He was going to tell
me what had taken place, but checked himself.
'But I don't think the minister will like your having given her a novel
to read?'
'Pooh!
I was to ask Paul to be here as much as he could. I hope you'll find
yourself happy with us, I'm sure, sir. Has Phillis given you something
to eat and drink, I wonder? there's a deal in eating a little often, if
one has to get strong after an illness.' And then she began to question
him as to the details of his indisposition in her simple, motherly way.
He seemed at once to understand her, and to enter into friendly
relations with her. It was not quite the same in the evening when the
minister came home. Men have always a little natural antipathy to get
over when they first meet as strangers. But in this case each was
disposed to make an effort to like the other; only each was to each a
specimen of an unknown class. I had to leave the Hope Farm on Sunday
afternoon, as I had Mr Holdsworth's work as well as my own to look to
in Eltham; and I was not at all sure how things would go on during the
week that Holdsworth was to remain on his visit; I had been once or
twice in hot water already at the near clash of opinions between the
minister and my much-vaunted friend. On the Wednesday I received a
short note from Holdsworth; he was going to stay on, and return with me
on the following Sunday, and he wanted me to send him a certain list of
books, his theodolite, and other surveying instruments, all of which
could easily be conveyed down the line to Heathbridge. I went to his
lodgings and picked out the books. Italian, Latin, trigonometry; a
pretty considerable parcel they made, besides the implements. I began
to be curious as to the general progress of affairs at Hope Farm, but I
could not go over till the Saturday. At Heathbridge I found Holdsworth,
come to meet me. He was looking quite a different man to what I had
left him; embrowned, sparkles in his eyes, so languid before. I told
him how much stronger he looked.
'Yes!' said he. 'I am fidging fain to be at work again. Last week I
dreaded the thoughts of my employment: now I am full of desire to
begin. This week in the country has done wonders for me.'
'You have enjoyed yourself, then?'
'Oh! it has been perfect in its way. Such a thorough country life! and
yet removed from the dulness which I always used to fancy accompanied
country life, by the extraordinary intelligence of the minister. I have
fallen into calling him "the minister", like every one else.'
'You get on with him, then?' said I. 'I was a little afraid.'
'I was on the verge of displeasing him once or twice, I fear, with
random assertions and exaggerated expressions, such as one always uses
with other people, and thinks nothing of; but I tried to check myself
when I saw how it shocked the good man; and really it is very wholesome
exercise, this trying to make one's words represent one's thoughts,
instead of merely looking to their effect on others.'
'Then you are quite friends now?' I asked.
'Yes, thoroughly; at any rate as far as I go. I never met with a man
with such a desire for knowledge. In information, as far as it can be
gained from books, he far exceeds me on most subjects; but then I have
travelled and seen—Were not you surprised at the list of things I sent
for?'
'Yes; I thought it did not promise much rest.'
'Oh! some of the books were for the minister, and some for his
daughter. (I call her Phillis to myself, but I use XX in speaking about
her to others. I don't like to seem familiar, and yet Miss Holman is a
term I have never heard used.)'
'I thought the Italian books were for her.'
'Yes! Fancy her trying at Dante for her first book in Italian! I had a
capital novel by Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi, just the thing for a
beginner; and if she must still puzzle out Dante, my dictionary is far
better than hers.'
'Then she found out you had written those definitions on her list of
words?'
'Oh! yes'—with a smile of amusement and pleasure. He was going to tell
me what had taken place, but checked himself.
'But I don't think the minister will like your having given her a novel
to read?'
'Pooh!
Similar Books
