the red acorn-第47部分

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at　your　symptoms　are　not　at　all　bad；　and　that　you'll　be　up　again　in　a　few　days。〃

〃O；　them　Doctors　always　talk　that　way。　　They're　the　flintiest…hearted　set　I　ever　see　in　all　my　born　days。　　They're　always　pretending　that　they　don't　believe　there　is　nothin'　the　matter　with　a　feller。　　I　really　believe　they'd　a　little　liefer　a　man'd　die　than　not。　　They　don't　seem　to　take　no　sort　of　interest　in　savin'　the　soldiers　that　the　country　needs　so　badly。〃

Rachel　felt　as　if　it　would　sweeten　much　hard　service　if　she　could　tell　Alspaugh　outright　her　opinion　that　he　was　acting　very　calfishly；　but　other　counsels　prevailed；　and　she　said　encouragingly：

〃You　are　only　discouraged；　Jacobthat's　all。　　A　few　days　rest　here　will　restore　both　your　health　and　your　spirits。〃

〃No；　I'm　not　discouraged。　　I'm　not　the　kind　to　git　down　in　the　mouthyou　know　me　well　enough　for　that。　　I'm　sick；　sick　I　tell　yousicker'n　any　other　man　in　this　hospital；　an'　nothin'　but　the　best　o'　nursin'　'll　save　my　life　for　the　country。　　O；　how　I　wish　I　was　at　home　with　my　mother；　she'd　take　care　o'　me。〃

Rachel　could　not　repress　a　smile　at　the　rememberance　of　Jake's　termagant　mother　nad　her　dirty；　comfortless　cottage；　an　how　her　intemperance　in　administering　such　castisement　as　conveyed　most　grief　to　a　boy's　nature　first　drove　Jake　to　seek　refuge　with　her　father。

〃No　doubt　it　would　be　very　comfortable；〃　she　answered；　〃if　you　could　get　home　to　your　mother；　but　there's　no　need　of　it；　because　you'll　be　well　before　you　could　possibly　reach　there。〃

〃No；　I'll　never　be　well；〃　persisted　Jake；　〃unless　I　have　the　best　o'　care；　but　I　feel　much　better　now；　since　I　find　you　here；　for　I'm　sure　you'll　take　as　much　interest　in　me　as　a　sister　would。〃

She　shuddered　a　little　at　the　prospect　of　even　temporary　sisterly　relations　to　the　fellow；　but　replied　guardedly：

〃Of　course　I'll　do　what　I　can　for　you；　Jacob；〃　and　started　to　move　away；　but　he　caught　her　dress　and　whimpered：

〃O；　don't　go；　Miss　Rachel；　do　go　and　leave　me　all　alone。　　Stay　any　way　till　I'm　fixed　somehow　comfortable。〃

〃I　half　believe　the　booby　will　have　hysterics；〃　thought　Rachel；　with　curling　lip。　　〃Is　this　the　man　they　praised　so　for　his　heroism？　Does　all　his　manhood　depend　upon　his　health？　　Now　he　hasn't　the　spirit　of　a　sick　kitten。〃　　Dreading　a　scene；　however；　she　took　her　seat　at　the　head　of　the　cot；　and　gave　some　directions　for　its　arrangement。

Jake's　symptoms　grew　worse　rapidly；　for　he　bent　all　his　crafty　energies　to　that　end。　　Refuge　in　the　hospital　from　the　unpleasant　contingencies　attending　duty　in　the　field　was　a　good　thing；　and　it　became　superexcellent　when　his　condition　made　him　the　object　of　the　care　and　sympathy　of　so　fine　a　young　lady　as　Miss　Rachel　Bond。　This　he　felt　was　something　like　compensation　for　all　that　he　had　endured　for　the　country；　and　he　would　get　as　much　of　it　as　possible。　His　mind　busied　itself　in　recalling　and　imitating　the　signs　of　suffering　he　had　seen　in　others。

He　breathed　stretorously；　groaned　and　sighed　immoderately；　and　even　had　little　fits　of　well…feigned　delirium；　in　which　he　babbled　of　home　and　friends　and　the　war；　and　such　other　things　as　had　come　within　the　limited　scope　of　his　mental　horizon。

〃Don't　leave　me；　Miss　Racheldon't　leave　me；〃　he　said；　in　one　of　these　simulated　paroxysms；　clutching　at　the　same　time；　with　a　movement　singularly　well　directed　for　a　delirious　man；　one　of　her　delicate　hands　in　his　great；　coarse；　and　not…over…clean　fingers。　Had　it　been　the　hand　of　a　dying　man；　or　of　one　in　a　raging　fever；　that　imprisoned　hers；　Rachel　would　not　have　felt　the　repulsion　that　she　did　at　a　touch　which　betrayed　to　her　only　too　well　that　the　toucher's　illness　was　counterfeited。　　She　could　hardly　restrain　the　impulse　to　dash　away　the　loathsome　hand；　as　she　would　a　toad　that　had　fallen　upon　her；　but　she　swiftly　remembered；　as　she　had　in　hundreds　of　other　instances　since　she　had　been　in　the　hospital；　that　she　was　no　longer　in　her　own　parlor；　but　in　a　public　place；　with　scores　of　eyes　noting　every　movement；　and　that　such　an　act　of　just　disdain　would　probably　be　misunderstood；　and　possibly　be　ruinous　to　a　belief　in　her　genuine　sympathy　with　the　misfortunes　of　the　sick　which　she　had　labored　so　heroically　to　build　up。

She　strove　to　release　her　fingers　quietly；　but　at　this　Alspaugh's　paroxysm　became　intense。　　He　clung　the　tighter　to　her；　and　kneaded　her　fingers　in　a　way　that　was　almost　maddening。　　Never　in　all　her　life　had　a　man　presumed　to　take　such　a　familiarity　with　her。　　But　her　woman's　wit　did　not　desert　her。　　With　her　disengaged　hand　she　felt　for　and　took　out　a　large　pin　that　fastened　a　bit　of　lace　to　her　throat；　with　the　desperate　intent　to　give　her　tormentor　a　sly　stab　that　would　change　the　current　of　his　thoughts。

But　at　the　moment　of　carrying　this　into　effect　something　caused　her　to　look　up；　and　she　saw　Dr。　Denslow　standing　before　her；　with　an　amused　look　in　his　kindly；　hazel　eyes。

She　desisted　from　her　purpose　and　restored　the　pin　to　its　place　in　obedience　to　a　sign　from　him；　which　told　her　that　he　thoroughly　understood　the　case；　and　had　a　more　effective　way　of　dealing　with　it　than　the　thrust　of　a　pin　point。

〃I'm　very　much　afraid　that　this　is　a　dangerous　case　we　have　here；　Miss　Bond；〃　he　said　in　a　stage　whisper；　as　if　very　anxious　that　the　patient　should　not　overhear。　　〃Yes；　a　very　dangerous　case。〃

Jake　grew　pale；　released　Rachel's　hand；　turned　over　on　his　side　and　groaned。

〃Do　you　really　think　so；　Doctor？〃　said　Rachel　in　the　same　tone。

〃Yes；　really。　　It's　as　clear　a　case　of　de　gustibus　non　disputandum　as　I　ever　saw　in　my　life。〃

〃O；　Lordie；　hev　I　got　all　of　that？〃　asked　Jake；　as　he　sat　bolt　upright；　with　eyes　starting。

〃It　is　my　unpleasant　duty　to　tell　you　that　you　certainly　have；〃　said　the　Doctor；　gravely。　　〃As　plainly　indicated　as　I　ever　saw　it。　Furthermore；　it　is　seriously　complicated　with　fiat　justitia　ruat　caelum；　with　strong　hints　of　the　presence　of　in　media　tutissimus　ibis。〃

〃Great　Scott！　can　I　ever　get　well？〃　groaned　poor　Jake。　　Rachel's　strain　was　on　her　risibles；　and　to　make　her　face　express　only　sympathy　and　concern。

〃And；〃　continued　the　remorseless　Surgeon；　in　a　tone　of　the　kindliest　commiseration；　〃in　the　absence　of　the　least　espirt　de　corps；　and　dulce　et　decorum　est　pro　patria　mori　feeling　in　you　it　is　apparent　that　none　of　your　mental　processes　are　going　on　properly；　which　deranges　everything。〃

〃Can't　I　be　sent　home　to　die？〃　whimpered　the　wretched　Jake。

〃Not　in　your　present　condition。　　I　notice；　in　addition　to　what　I　have　told　you；　that　your　heart　is　not　rightits　action　is　depraved；　so　to　speak。〃　　This　with　a　glance　at　Rachel；　which　brought　the　crimson　to　that　damsel's　cheek。

〃O；　Doctor；　please　try　to　do　something　for　me　right　off；　before　I　get　any　worse；〃　pleaded　Jake；　with　the　tears　starting　in　his　eyes。

Rachel　took　this　opportunity　to　slip　away　to　where　she　could　laugh　unobserved。　　The　Surgeon's　facial　muscles　were　too　well　trained　to　feel　any　strain。　　he　continued　in　the　same　tone　of　gentle　consideration：

〃I　have　already　ordered　the　preparation　of　some　remedies。　　The　Steward　will　be　here　in　a　few　minues　with　the　barber；　who　will　shave　your　head；　that　we　may　apply　a　couple　of　fly…bisters　behind