第22章法官的房子（7）
Againhewasediatesurroundihistimeitmighthesuddensilenlywhichtookhisattention;therewasaslightmovementoftherope，andthelampmoved。With，helookedtoseeifhispileofbookswaswithihencasthiseyealongtherope。Ashelookedhesawthegreatratdropfromtheropeontheoakarmdsitthereglaringathim。Heraisedabookinhisrighthand，andtakingcarefulaim，flungitattherat。Thelatter，withaquient，sprangasideahemissile。Hethentookanotherbook，andathird，andflueraherat，buteasuccessfully。Atlast，ashestoodoisedinhishandtothrow，theratsqueakedandseemedafraid。ThismadeMalorethaostrike，andthebookflewandstrucktherataresoundingblow。Itgaveaterrifiedsqueak，andturningonhispursueralookofterriblemalevolenupthechair-badmadeagreatjumptotheropeofthealarmbellandranupitlikelightning。Thelamproderthesuddenstrain，butitwasaheavyoneanddidnottoppleover。Malsohiseyeso，andsawitbythelightofthesepleaptoamouldiahroughaholeihegreatpictureswhithewall，obsdihroughitsgofdirtanddust。
"Ishalllookupmyfriend'shabitationinthem，"saidthestudeovertocollecthisbooks。"Thethirdpithefireplace;Ishall;Hepickedupthebooksoingonthemasheliftedthem。"ishedoesnotmind，norCycloidalOss，northePrinorQuaternions，norThermodynamiowforthebookthatfetchedhim!"Malsontookitupa。Ashedidsohestarted，asuddenpalloroverspreadhisface。Helookedrounduneasilyaly，ashemurmuredtohimself:"TheBiblemymaveme!Whatanoddce。"Hesatdaisireheirgambols。Theydidnotdisturbhim，however;somehowtheirpresencegavehimasenseofpanionship。Butheotattendtohiswork，arivingtomasterthesubjewhichhewaseupindespair，aobedasthehefirststreakofdawhroughtheeasternwindow。
&heavilybutuneasily，anddreamedmudwheerwokehimlateinthemheseemedillatease，andforafewmiseemtorealiseexactlywherehewas。Hisfirstrequestrathersurprisedtheservant。"Mrs。Dempster，whenIamouttodayIwishyouwouldgetthestepsanddustorwashthosepictures—speciallythatohirdfromthefireplattoseewhattheyare。"
&heafternoonMalsohisbooksintheshadedwalk，andtheessofthepreviousdaycamebaasthedayworeohathisreadingrwell。Hehadworkedouttoasatisfaalltheproblemswhichhadasyetbaffledhim，anditwasinastateofjubilationthathepaidavisittoMrs。Withamat"TheGoodTraveller。"Heferiting-roomwiththelandlady，whowasiohimasDr。Thorquiteatease，andthis，bihedoctor'splungioaseriesofquestions，madeMaletothethathispresea，sowithoutpreliminaryhesaid:"Dr。Thornhill，Ishallwithpleasureansweryouaionyoumayeifyouwillanswermyoionfirst。"
&orseemedsurprised，buthesmiledao;Doisit?"
"DidMrs。Withamaskyoutoehereandseemea;
Dr。ThornhillforamomentwastakenabadMrs。Withamgotfieryredandturnedaway;butthedoctorwasafrankandreadyman，andheaondopenly。"Shedid:butshedidn'tioknowit。Isupposeitwasmyclumsyhastehatmadeyoususpeethatshedidheideainthathouseallbyyourself，andthatshethoughtyoutooktotea。Infact，shewaoadviseyouifpossibletogiveuptheteaaehours。Iwasasakeeinmytime，soIsupposeImaytakethelibertyofaan，andwithoutoffence，adviseyoura;
Malsonwithabrightsmileheldouthishand。"Shake!AstheysayinAmerica，"hesaid。"ImustthankyouforyourkindnessandMrs。Withamtoo，andyourkindnessdeservesareturnonmypart。Ipromisetotakeea—alltillyouletme—andIshallgotobedtonightatoneo'clockatlatest。Willthatdo?"
"Capital，"saidthedoctor。"Nowtellusallthatyouheoldhouse，"andsoMalsoheretoldiailallthathadhappewoerruptedeverynowandtheionfromMrs。Witham，tillfioldoftheepisodeoftheBiblethelandlady'speionsfouiwasnottillastiffglassofbrandyandwaterhadbeenadmishegrewposedagain。Dr。Thornhilllistehafaceravity，ahenarrativeleteandMrs。Withamhadbeeoredheasked:"Theratalwayswentuptheropeofthealarmbell?"
"Always。"
"Isupposeyouknow，"saidthedoctorafterapause，"eis?"
"No!"
"Itis，"saidthedoctorslowly，"theveryropewhigmanusedforallthevictimsoftheJudge'sjudicour!"Herehewasihersrs。shadtobetakenforherrealsonhavihiswatdfoundthatitwasclosetohisdinnerhonehomebeforeherpleterecovery。