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欧·亨利:AT ARMS WITH MORPHEUS
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  • AT ARMS WITH MORPHEUS

    I never could quite understand how Tom Hopkins came to make that blunder, for he had been through a whole term at a medical college—before he inherited his aunt’s fortune—and had been considered strong in therapeutics.

    We had been making a call together that evening, and afterward1 Tom ran up to my rooms for a pipe and a chat before going on to his own luxurious2 apartments. I had stepped into the other room for a moment when I heard Tom sing out:

    “Oh, Billy, I’m going to take about four grains of quinine, if you don’t mind— I’m feeling all blue and shivery. Guess I’m taking cold.”

    “All right,” I called back. “The bottle is on the second shelf. Take it in a spoonful of that elixir4 of eucalyptus5. It knocks the bitter out.”

    After I came back we sat by the fire and got our briars going. In about eight minutes Tom sank back into a gentle collapse6.

    I went straight to the medicine cabinet and looked.

    “You unmitigated hayseed!” I growled7. “See what money will do for a man’s brains!”

    There stood the morphine bottle with the stopple out, just as Tom had left it.

    I routed out another young M.D. who roomed on the floor above, and sent him for old Doctor Gales8, two squares away. Tom Hopkins has too much money to be attended by rising young practitioners9 alone.

    When Gales came we put Tom through as expensive a course of treatment as the resources of the profession permit. After the more drastic remedies we gave him citrate of caffeine in frequent doses and strong coffee, and walked him up and down the floor between two of us. Old Gales pinched him and slapped his face and worked hard for the big check he could see in the distance. The young M.D. from the next floor gave Tom a most hearty10, rousing kick, and then apologized to me.

    “Couldn’t help it,” he said. “I never kicked a millionaire before in my life. I may never have another opportunity.”

    “Now,” said Doctor Gales, after a couple of hours, “he’ll do. But keep him awake for another hour. You can do that by talking to him and shaking him up occasionally. When his pulse and respiration11 are normal then let him sleep. I’ll leave him with you now.”

    I was left alone with Tom, whom we had laid on a couch. He lay very still, and his eyes were half closed. I began my work of keeping him awake.

    “Well, old man,” I said, “you’ve had a narrow squeak12, but we’ve pulled you through. When you were attending lectures, Tom, didn’t any of the professors ever casually13 remark that m-o-r-p-h-i-a never spells ‘quinia,’ especially in four-grain doses? But I won’t pile it up on you until you get on your feet. But you ought to have been a druggist, Tom; you’re splendidly qualified14 to fill prescriptions15.”

    Tom looked at me with a faint and foolish smile.

    “B’ly,” he murmured, “I feel jus’ like a hum’n bird flyin’ around a jolly lot of most ’shpensive roses. Don’ bozzer me. Goin’ sleep now.”

    And he went to sleep in two seconds. I shook him by the shoulder.

    “Now, Tom,” I said, severely16, “this won’t do. The big doctor said you must stay awake for at least an hour. Open your eyes. You’re not entirely17 safe yet, you know. Wake up.”

    Tom Hopkins weighs one hundred and ninety-eight. He gave me another somnolent18 grin, and fell into deeper slumber19. I would have made him move about, but I might as well have tried to make Cleopatra’s needle waltz around the room with me. Tom’s breathing became stertorous20, and that, in connection with morphia poisoning, means danger.

    Then I began to think. I could not rouse his body; I must strive to excite his mind. “Make him angry,” was an idea that suggested itself. “Good!” I thought; but how? There was not a joint in Tom’s armour21. Dear old fellow! He was good nature itself, and a gallant22 gentleman, fine and true and clean as sunlight. He came from somewhere down South, where they still have ideals and a code. New York had charmed, but had not spoiled, him. He had that old-fashioned chivalrous23 reverence24 for women, that—Eureka!—there was my idea! I worked the thing up for a minute or two in my imagination. I chuckled25 to myself at the thought of springing a thing like that on old Tom Hopkins. Then I took him by the shoulder and shook him till his ears flopped26. He opened his eyes lazily. I assumed an expression of scorn and contempt, and pointed27 my finger within two inches of his nose.

    “Listen to me, Hopkins,” I said, in cutting and distinct tones, “you and I have been good friends, but I want you to understand that in the future my doors are closed against any man who acts as much like a scoundrel as you have.”

    Tom looked the least bit interested.

    “What’s the matter, Billy?” he muttered, composedly. “Don’t your clothes fit you?”

    “If I were in your place,” I went on, “which, thank God, I am not, I think I would be afraid to close my eyes. How about that girl you left waiting for you down among those lonesome Southern pines—the girl that you’ve forgotten since you came into your confounded money? Oh, I know what I’m talking about. While you were a poor medical student she was good enough for you. But now, since you are a millionaire, it’s different. I wonder what she thinks of the performances of that peculiar28 class of people which she has been taught to worship—the Southern gentlemen? I’m sorry, Hopkins, that I was forced to speak about these matters, but you’ve covered it up so well and played your part so nicely that I would have sworn you were above such unmanly tricks.”

    Poor Tom. I could scarcely keep from laughing outright29 to see him struggling against the effects of the opiate. He was distinctly angry, and I didn’t blame him. Tom had a Southern temper. His eyes were open now, and they showed a gleam or two of fire. But the drug still clouded his mind and bound his tongue.

    “C-c-confound you,” he stammered30, “I’ll s-smash you.”

    He tried to rise from the couch. With all his size he was very weak now. I thrust him back with one arm. He lay there glaring like a lion in a trap.

    “That will hold you for a while, you old loony,” I said to myself. I got up and lit my pipe, for I was needing a smoke. I walked around a bit, congratulating myself on my brilliant idea.

    I heard a snore. I looked around. Tom was asleep again. I walked over and punched him on the jaw31. He looked at me as pleasant and ungrudging as an idiot. I chewed my pipe and gave it to him hard.

    “I want you to recover yourself and get out of my rooms as soon as you can,” I said, insultingly. “I’ve told you what I think of you. If you have any honour or honesty left you will think twice before you attempt again to associate with gentlemen. She’s a poor girl, isn’t she?” I sneered32. “Somewhat too plain and unfashionable for us since we got our money. Be ashamed to walk on Fifth Avenue with her, wouldn’t you? Hopkins, you’re forty-seven times worse than a cad. Who cares for your money? I don’t. I’ll bet that girl don’t. Perhaps if you didn’t have it you’d be more of a man. As it is you’ve made a cur of yourself, and”—I thought that quite dramatic—“perhaps broken a faithful heart.” (Old Tom Hopkins breaking a faithful heart!) “Let me be rid of you as soon as possible.”

    I turned my back on Tom, and winked33 at myself in a mirror. I heard him moving, and I turned again quickly. I didn’t want a hundred and ninety-eight pounds falling on me from the rear. But Tom had only turned partly over, and laid one arm across his face. He spoke34 a few words rather more distinctly than before.

    “I couldn’t have—talked this way—to you, Billy, even if I’d heard people—lyin’ ’bout3 you. But jus’ soon’s I can s-stand up—I’ll break your neck—don’ f’get it.”

    I did feel a little ashamed then. But it was to save Tom. In the morning, when I explained it, we would have a good laugh over it together.

    In about twenty minutes Tom dropped into a sound, easy slumber. I felt his pulse, listened to his respiration, and let him sleep. Everything was normal, and Tom was safe. I went into the other room and tumbled into bed.

    I found Tom up and dressed when I awoke the next morning. He was entirely himself again with the exception of shaky nerves and a tongue like a white-oak chip.

    “What an idiot I was,” he said, thoughtfully. “I remember thinking that quinine bottle looked queer while I was taking the dose. Have much trouble in bringing me ’round?”

    I told him no. His memory seemed bad about the entire affair. I concluded that he had no recollection of my efforts to keep him awake, and decided35 not to enlighten him. Some other time, I thought, when he was feeling better, we would have some fun over it.

    When Tom was ready to go he stopped, with the door open, and shook my hand.

    “Much obliged, old fellow,” he said, quietly, “for taking so much trouble with me—and for what you said. I’m going down now to telegraph to the little girl.”

     11级    欧·亨利 


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    1 afterward ['ɑ:ftəwəd] fK6y3   第7级
    adv.后来;以后
    参考例句:
    • Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏,然后吃饭。
    • Afterward, the boy became a very famous artist. 后来,这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。
    2 luxurious [lʌgˈʒʊəriəs] S2pyv   第7级
    adj.精美而昂贵的;豪华的
    参考例句:
    • This is a luxurious car complete with air conditioning and telephone. 这是一辆附有空调设备和电话的豪华轿车。
    • The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings. 这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。
    3 bout [baʊt] Asbzz   第9级
    n.侵袭,发作;一次(阵,回);拳击等比赛
    参考例句:
    • I was suffering with a bout of nerves. 我感到一阵紧张。
    • That bout of pneumonia enfeebled her. 那次肺炎的发作使她虚弱了。
    4 elixir [ɪˈlɪksə(r)] cjAzh   第11级
    n.长生不老药,万能药
    参考例句:
    • There is no elixir of life in the world. 世界上没有长生不老药。
    • Keep your mind awake and active;that's the only youth elixir. 保持头脑清醒和灵活便是保持年轻的唯一灵丹妙药。
    5 eucalyptus [ˌju:kəˈlɪptəs] jnaxm   第11级
    n.桉树,桉属植物
    参考例句:
    • Eucalyptus oil is good for easing muscular aches and pains. 桉树油可以很好地缓解肌肉的疼痛。
    • The birds rustled in the eucalyptus trees. 鸟在桉树弄出沙沙的响声。
    6 collapse [kəˈlæps] aWvyE   第7级
    vi.累倒;昏倒;倒塌;塌陷
    参考例句:
    • The country's economy is on the verge of collapse. 国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
    • The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse. 工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。
    7 growled [ɡrauld] 65a0c9cac661e85023a63631d6dab8a3   第8级
    v.(动物)发狺狺声, (雷)作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 );低声咆哮着说
    参考例句:
    • \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道:“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    8 gales [ɡeilz] c6a9115ba102941811c2e9f42af3fc0a   第8级
    龙猫
    参考例句:
    • I could hear gales of laughter coming from downstairs. 我能听到来自楼下的阵阵笑声。
    • This was greeted with gales of laughter from the audience. 观众对此报以阵阵笑声。
    9 practitioners [prækˈtiʃənəz] 4f6cea6bb06753de69fd05e8adbf90a8   第7级
    n.习艺者,实习者( practitioner的名词复数 );从业者(尤指医师)
    参考例句:
    • one of the greatest practitioners of science fiction 最了不起的科幻小说家之一
    • The technique is experimental, but the list of its practitioners is growing. 这种技术是试验性的,但是采用它的人正在增加。 来自辞典例句
    10 hearty [ˈhɑ:ti] Od1zn   第7级
    adj.热情友好的;衷心的;尽情的,纵情的
    参考例句:
    • After work they made a hearty meal in the worker's canteen. 工作完了,他们在工人食堂饱餐了一顿。
    • We accorded him a hearty welcome. 我们给他热忱的欢迎。
    11 respiration [ˌrespəˈreɪʃn] us7yt   第9级
    n.呼吸作用;一次呼吸;植物光合作用
    参考例句:
    • They tried artificial respiration but it was of no avail. 他们试做人工呼吸,可是无效。
    • They made frequent checks on his respiration, pulse and blood. 他们经常检查他的呼吸、脉搏和血液。
    12 squeak [skwi:k] 4Gtzo   第9级
    n.吱吱声,逃脱;vi.(发出)吱吱叫,侥幸通过;(俚)告密vt.以短促尖声发出
    参考例句:
    • I don't want to hear another squeak out of you! 我不想再听到你出声!
    • We won the game, but it was a narrow squeak. 我们打赢了这场球赛,不过是侥幸取胜。
    13 casually ['kæʒʊəlɪ] UwBzvw   第8级
    adv.漠不关心地,无动于衷地,不负责任地
    参考例句:
    • She remarked casually that she was changing her job. 她当时漫不经心地说要换工作。
    • I casually mentioned that I might be interested in working abroad. 我不经意地提到我可能会对出国工作感兴趣。
    14 qualified [ˈkwɒlɪfaɪd] DCPyj   第8级
    adj.合格的,有资格的,胜任的,有限制的
    参考例句:
    • He is qualified as a complete man of letters. 他有资格当真正的文学家。
    • We must note that we still lack qualified specialists. 我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。
    15 prescriptions [prɪsk'rɪpʃnz] f0b231c0bb45f8e500f32e91ec1ae602   第7级
    药( prescription的名词复数 ); 处方; 开处方; 计划
    参考例句:
    • The hospital of traditional Chinese medicine installed a computer to fill prescriptions. 中医医院装上了电子计算机来抓药。
    • Her main job was filling the doctor's prescriptions. 她的主要工作就是给大夫开的药方配药。
    16 severely [sə'vɪrlɪ] SiCzmk   第7级
    adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地
    参考例句:
    • He was severely criticized and removed from his post. 他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
    • He is severely put down for his careless work. 他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。
    17 entirely [ɪnˈtaɪəli] entirely   第9级
    ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地
    参考例句:
    • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
    • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
    18 somnolent [ˈsɒmnələnt] YwLwA   第12级
    adj.想睡的,催眠的;adv.瞌睡地;昏昏欲睡地;使人瞌睡地
    参考例句:
    • The noise of the stream had a pleasantly somnolent effect. 小河潺潺的流水声有宜人的催眠效果。
    • The sedative makes people very somnolent. 这种镇静剂会让人瞌睡。
    19 slumber [ˈslʌmbə(r)] 8E7zT   第9级
    n.睡眠,沉睡状态
    参考例句:
    • All the people in the hotels were wrapped in deep slumber. 住在各旅馆里的人都已进入梦乡。
    • Don't wake him from his slumber because he needs the rest. 不要把他从睡眠中唤醒,因为他需要休息。
    20 stertorous ['stɜ:tərəs] UuuwF   第12级
    adj.打鼾的
    参考例句:
    • Mrs. Tremaine grew more and more worried at his pallid face and stertorous breathing. 屈里曼太太看他那苍白的脸色和急促的喘气,倒越来越担心。
    • Her breathing became loud and stertorous. 她的呼吸变成很响的呼噜声。
    21 armour ['ɑ:mə(r)] gySzuh   第9级
    (=armor)n.盔甲;装甲部队
    参考例句:
    • His body was encased in shining armour. 他全身披着明晃晃的甲胄。
    • Bulletproof cars sheathed in armour. 防弹车护有装甲。
    22 gallant [ˈgælənt] 66Myb   第9级
    adj.英勇的,豪侠的;(向女人)献殷勤的
    参考例句:
    • Huang Jiguang's gallant deed is known by all men. 黄继光的英勇事迹尽人皆知。
    • These gallant soldiers will protect our country. 这些勇敢的士兵会保卫我们的国家的。
    23 chivalrous [ˈʃɪvlrəs] 0Xsz7   第11级
    adj.武士精神的;对女人彬彬有礼的
    参考例句:
    • Men are so little chivalrous now. 现在的男人几乎没有什么骑士风度了。
    • Toward women he was nobly restrained and chivalrous. 对于妇女,他表现得高尚拘谨, 尊敬三分。
    24 reverence [ˈrevərəns] BByzT   第8级
    n.敬畏,尊敬,尊严;Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称;v.尊敬,敬畏,崇敬
    参考例句:
    • He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all. 他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
    • We reverence tradition but will not be fettered by it. 我们尊重传统,但不被传统所束缚。
    25 chuckled [ˈtʃʌkld] 8ce1383c838073977a08258a1f3e30f8   第9级
    轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 )
    参考例句:
    • She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
    • She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情,她就轻轻地暗自发笑。
    26 flopped [flɔpt] e5b342a0b376036c32e5cd7aa560c15e   第11级
    v.(指书、戏剧等)彻底失败( flop的过去式和过去分词 );(因疲惫而)猛然坐下;(笨拙地、不由自主地或松弛地)移动或落下;砸锅
    参考例句:
    • Exhausted, he flopped down into a chair. 他筋疲力尽,一屁股坐到椅子上。
    • It was a surprise to us when his play flopped. 他那出戏一败涂地,出乎我们的预料。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    27 pointed [ˈpɔɪntɪd] Il8zB4   第7级
    adj.尖的,直截了当的
    参考例句:
    • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil. 他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
    • A safety pin has a metal covering over the pointed end. 安全别针在尖端有一个金属套。
    28 peculiar [pɪˈkju:liə(r)] cinyo   第7级
    adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的
    参考例句:
    • He walks in a peculiar fashion. 他走路的样子很奇特。
    • He looked at me with a very peculiar expression. 他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。
    29 outright [ˈaʊtraɪt] Qj7yY   第10级
    adv.坦率地;彻底地;立即;adj.无疑的;彻底的
    参考例句:
    • If you have a complaint you should tell me outright. 如果你有不满意的事,你应该直率地对我说。
    • You should persuade her to marry you outright. 你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。
    30 stammered [ˈstæməd] 76088bc9384c91d5745fd550a9d81721   第8级
    v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )
    参考例句:
    • He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
    • Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠,结结巴巴地说,“你是什么意思?” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
    31 jaw [dʒɔ:] 5xgy9   第7级
    n.颚,颌,说教,流言蜚语;v.喋喋不休,教训
    参考例句:
    • He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw. 他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。
    • A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character. 强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。
    32 sneered [sniəd] 0e3b5b35e54fb2ad006040792a867d9f   第7级
    讥笑,冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 )
    参考例句:
    • He sneered at people who liked pop music. 他嘲笑喜欢流行音乐的人。
    • It's very discouraging to be sneered at all the time. 成天受嘲讽是很令人泄气的。
    33 winked [wiŋkt] af6ada503978fa80fce7e5d109333278   第7级
    v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 );递眼色(表示友好或高兴等);(指光)闪烁;闪亮
    参考例句:
    • He winked at her and she knew he was thinking the same thing that she was. 他冲她眨了眨眼,她便知道他的想法和她一样。
    • He winked his eyes at her and left the classroom. 他向她眨巴一下眼睛走出了教室。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
    34 spoke [spəʊk] XryyC   第11级
    n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
    参考例句:
    • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company. 他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
    • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre. 辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
    35 decided [dɪˈsaɪdɪd] lvqzZd   第7级
    adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
    参考例句:
    • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents. 这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
    • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting. 英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

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