ButTorpenhowwasinthesouthofEngland，inspectingdockyardsinthecompanyoftheNilghaiHisletterswerebriefandfullofmystery。
DickhadneveraskedanybodytohelphiminhisjoysorhissorrowsHeargued，inthelonelinessofhisstudio，henceforwardtobedecoratedwithafilmofgraygauzeinonecorner，that，ifhisfatewereblindness，alltheTorpenhowsintheworldcouldnotsavehim’Ican’tcallhimoffhistriptositdownandsympathisewithmeImustpullthroughthisbusinessalone，’hesaidHewaslyingonthesofa，eatinghismoustacheandwonderingwhatthedarknessofthenightwouldbelikeThencametohismindthememoryofaquaintsceneintheSoudanAsoldierhadbeennearlyhackedintwobyabroad-bladedArabspearForoneinstantthemanfeltnopainLookingdown，hesawthathislife-bloodwasgoingfromhimThestupidbewildermentonhisfacewassointenselycomicthatbothDickandTorpenhow，stillpantingandunstrungfromafightforlife，hadroaredwithlaughter，inwhichthemanseemedasifhewouldjoin，but，ashislipspartedinasheepishgrin，theagonyofdeathcameuponhim，andhepitchedgruntingattheirfeetDicklaughedagain，rememberingthehorrorItseemedsoexactlylikehisowncase。
’ButIhavealittlemoretimeallowedme，’hesaidHepacedupanddowntheroom，quietlyatfirst，butafterwardswiththehurriedfeetoffearItwasasthoughablackshadowstoodathiselbowandurgedhimtogoforward；andtherewereonlyweavingcirclesandfloatingpin-dotsbeforehiseyes。
’Weneedtobecalm，Binkie；wemustbecalm。’Hetalkedaloudforthesakeofdistraction’Thisisn’tniceatallWhatshallwedo？WemustdosomethingOurtimeisshortIshouldn’thavebelievedthatthismorning；
butnowthingsaredifferentBinkie，wherewasMoseswhenthelightwentout？’
Binkiesmiledfromeartoear，asawell-bredterriershould，butmadenosuggestion。
’“Weretherebutworldenoughandtime，Thiscoyness，Binkie，werenotcrimeButatmybackIalwayshear——“’Hewipedhisforehead，whichwasunpleasantlydamp’WhatcanIdo？WhatcanIdo？I
haven’tanynotionsleft，andIcan’tthinkconnectedly，butImustdosomething，orIshallgooffmyhead。’
Thehurriedwalkrecommenced，Dickstoppingeverynowandagaintodragforthlong-neglectedcanvasesandoldnote-books；forheturnedtohisworkbyinstinct，asathingthatcouldnotfail’Youwon’tdo，andyouwon’tdo，’hesaid，ateachinspection’NomoresoldiersIcouldn’tpaint’emSuddendeathcomeshometoonearly，andthisisbattleandmurderforme。’
Thedaywasfailing，andDickthoughtforamomentthatthetwilightoftheblindhadcomeuponhimunaware’AllahAlmighty！’hecrieddespairingly，’helpmethroughthetimeofwaiting，andIwon’twhinewhenmypunishmentcomesWhatcanIdonow，beforethelightgoes？’
TherewasnoanswerDickwaitedtillhecouldregainsomesortofcontroloverhimselfHishandswereshaking，andhepridedhimselfontheirsteadiness；hecouldfeelthathislipswerequivering，andthesweatwasrunningdownhisfaceHewaslashedbyfear，drivenforwardbythedesiretogettoworkatonceandaccomplishsomething，andmaddenedbytherefusalofhisbraintodomorethanrepeatthenewsthathewasabouttogoblind’It’sahumiliatingexhibition，’hethought，’andI’mgladTorpisn’theretoseeThedoctorsaidIwastoavoidmentalworry。
Comehereandletmepetyou，Binkie。’
ThelittledogyelpedbecauseDicknearlysqueezedthebarkoutofhim。
Thenheheardthemanspeakinginthetwilight，and，doglike，understoodthathistroublestoodofffromhim——
’Allahisgood，BinkieNotquitesogentleaswecouldwish，butwe’lldiscussthatlaterIthinkIseemywaytoitnowAllthosestudiesofBessie’sheadwerenonsense，andtheynearlybroughtyourmasterintoascrapeIholdthenotionnowasclearascrystal，——“theMelancoliathattranscendsallwit。”ThereshallbeMaisieinthathead，becauseI
shallnevergetMaisie；andBess，ofcourse，becausesheknowsallaboutMelancolia，thoughshedoesn’tknowsheknows；andthereshallbesomedrawinginit，anditshallallendupwithalaughThat’sformyself。
Shallshegiggleorgrin？No，sheshalllaughrightoutofthecanvas，andeverymanandwomanthateverhadasorrowoftheirownshall——whatisitthepoemsays？——
’Understandthespeechandfeelast...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：