按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
HILLCRIST。 All the same； this sort of thing isn't done； you know。
HORNBLOWER。 Not by you because ye've got no need to do it。 Here ye
are； quite content on what your fathers made for ye。 Ye've no
ambitions； and ye want other people to have none。 How d'ye think
your fathers got your land？
HILLCRIST。 ＇Who has risen＇ Not by breaking their word。
HORNBLOWER。 ＇Throwing out his； finger＇ Don't ye believe it。 They
got it by breaking their word and turnin' out Jackmans； if that's
their name； all over the place。
MRS。 H。 That's an insult； Mr。 Hornblower。
HORNBLOWER。 No； it's a repartee。 If ye think so much of these
Jackmans； build them a cottage yourselves； ye've got the space。
HILLCRIST。 That's beside the point。 You promised me； and I sold on
that understanding。
HORNBLOWER。 And I bought on the understandin' that I'd get some
more land from the Duke。
HILLCRIST。 That's nothing to do with me。
HORNBLOWER。 Ye'll find it has； because I'm going to have those
cottages。
HILLCRIST。 Well； I call it simply
＇He checks himself。＇
HORNBLOWER。 Look here； Hillcrist； ye've not had occasion to
understand men like me。 I've got the guts； and I've got the money；
and I don't sit still on it。 I'm going ahead because I believe in
meself。 I've no use for sentiment and that sort of thing。 Forty of
your Jackmans aren't worth me little finger。
HILLCRIST。 ＇Angry＇ Of all the blatant things I ever heard said！
HORNBLOWER。 Well； as we're speaking plainly； I've been thinkin'。
Ye want the village run your oldfashioned way； and I want it run
mine。 I fancy there's not room for the two of us here。
MRS。 H。 When are you going？
HORNBLOWER；。 Never fear； I'm not going。
HILLCRIST。 Look here； Mr。 Hornblowerthis infernal gout makes me
irritableputs me at a disadvantage。 But I should be glad if you'd
kindly explain yourself。
HORNBLOWER。 ＇With a great smile＇ Ca' canny； I'm fra' the North。
HILLCRIST。 I'm told you wish to buy the Centry and put more of your
chimneys up ；there； regardless of the fact ＇He Points through the
window＇ that it would utterly ruin the house we've had for
generations； and all our pleasure here。
HORNBLOWER。 How the man talks！ Why！ Ye'd think he owned the sky；
because his fathers built him a house with a pretty view； where he's
nothing to do but live。 It's sheer want of something to do that
gives ye your fine sentiments； Hillcrist。
HILLCRIST。 Have the goodness not to charge me with idleness。
Dawkerwhere is he？＇He shows the bureau＇ When you do the
drudgery of your works as thoroughly as I do that of my estate
Is it true about the Centry？
HORNBLOWER。 Gospel true。 If ye want to know； my son Chearlie is
buyin' it this very minute。
MRS。 H。 ＇Turning with a start＇ What do you say？
HORNBLOWER。 Ay； he's with the old lady she wants to sell； an'
she'll get her price； whatever it is。
HILLCRIST。 ＇With deep anger＇ If that isn't a skin game； Mr。
Hornblower； I don't know what is。
HORNBLOWER。 Ah！ Ye've got a very nice expression there。 〃Skin
game！〃 Well； bad words break no bones； an' they're wonderful for
hardenin' the heart。 If it wasn't for a lady's presence； I could
give ye a specimen or two。
MRS。 H。 Oh！ Mr。 Hornblower； that need not stop you； I'm sure。
HORNBLOWER。 Well； and I don't know that it need。 Ye're an
obstructionthe like of youye're in my path。 And anyone in my
path doesn't stay there long； or； if he does； he stays there on my
terms。 And my terms are chimneys in the Centry where I need 'em。
It'll do ye a power of good； too； to know that ye're not almighty。
HILLCRIST。 And that's being neighbourly！
HORNBLOWER。 And how have ye tried bein' neighbourly to me？ If I
haven't a wife； I've got a daughter…in…law。 Have Ye celled on her；
ma'am？ I'm new； and ye're an old family。 Ye don't like me； ye
think I'm a pushin' man。 I go to chapel； an' ye don't like that。
I make things and I sell them； and ye don't like that。 I buy land；
and ye don't like that。 It threatens the view from your windies。
Well； I don't lie you； and I'm not goin' to put up with your
attitude。 Ye've had things your own way too long； and now ye're not
going to have them any longer。
HILLCRIST。 Will you hold to your word over those cottages？
HORNBLOWER。 I'm goin' to have the cottages。 I need them； and more
besides； now I'm to put up me new works。
HILLCRIST。 That's a declaration of war。
HORNBLOWER。 Ye never said a truer word。 It's one or the other of
us； and I rather think it's goin' to be me。 I'm the risin' and
you're the settin' sun； as the poet says。
HILLCRIST。 ＇Touching the bell＇ We shall see if you can ride rough…
shod like this。 We used to have decent ways of going about things
here。 You want to change all that。 Well； we shall do our damnedest
to stop you。 ＇To FELLOWS at the door＇ Are the Jackmans still in
the house？ Ask them to be good enough to come in。
HORNBLOWER。 ＇With the first sign of uneasiness＇ I've seen these
people。 I've nothing more to say to them。 I told 'em I'd give 'em
five pounds to cover their moving。
HILLCRIST。 It doesn't occur to you that people； however humble；
like to have some say in their own fate？
HORNBLOWER。 I never had any say in mine till I had the brass； and
nobody ever will。 It's all hypocrisy。 You county folk are fair
awful hypocrites。 Ye talk about good form and all that sort o'
thing。 It's just the comfortable doctrine of the man in the saddle；
sentimental varnish。 Ye're every bit as hard as I am； underneath。
MRS。 H。 ＇Who had been standing very still all this time＇ You
flatter us。
HORNBLOWER。 Not at all。 God helps those who 'elp themselves
that's at the bottom of all religion。 I'm goin' to help meself； and
God's going to help me。
MRS。 H。 I admire your knowledge。
HILLCRIST。 We are in the right； and God helps
HORNBLOWER。 Don't ye believe it； ye 'aven't got the energy。
MRS。 H。 Nor perhaps the conceit。
HORNBLOWER。 ＇Throwing out his forefinger＇ No； no； 'tisn't conceit
to believe in yourself when ye've got reason to。 ＇The JACKMAN'S
have entered。＇
HILLCRIST。 I'm very sorry； Mrs。 Jackman； but I just wanted you to
realise that I've done my best with this gentleman。
MRS。 J。 ＇Doubtfully＇ Yes； sir。 I thought if you spoke for us；
he'd feel different…like。
HORNBLOWER。 One cottage is the same as another； missis。 I made ye
a fair offer of five pounds for the moving。
JACKMAN。 ＇Slowly＇ We wouldn't take fifty to go out of that 'ouse。
We brought up three children there； an' buried two from it。
MRS。 J。 ＇To MRS。 HILLCRIST＇ We're attached to it like； ma'am。
HILLCRIST。 ＇To HORNBLOWER。 How would you like being turned out of
a place you were fond of？
HORNBLOWER。 Not a bit。 But little considerations have to give way
to big ones。 Now； missis； I'll make it ten pounds； and I'll send a
wagon to shift your things。 If that isn't fair！ Ye'd better
accept； I shan't keep it open。
＇The JACKMANS look at each other； their faces show deep anger
and the question they ask each other is which will speak。＇
MRS。 J。 We won't take it； eh； George？
JACKMAN。 Not a